Issue 1164 - Monday 8 February by Cardiff Student Media

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8 Chwefror 2021 8 February 2021

gair rhydd Cardiff University’s student paper | Established 1972

Gair Rhydd wins Best Publication at the 2021 SPA Regional Conference Wales! Cardiff University testing system called 'fatally flawed' Tirion Davies

Editor-in-Chief

he manager of Cardiff University’s COVID-19 testing system has criticised the system, saying he stepped down from the role due to the system being “fatally flawed”. Speaking with the BBC, Neil Evans said he did not believe results from the testing system were reliable ahead of the system’s launch before the autumn semester. Evans claims the university were too eager to begin the rollout, and did so before the system was ready. Mr Evans left his role as manager in September and Cardiff University’s system began in October. Cardiff University has an asymptomatic screening service (meaning a test for students and staff without symptoms who may still be a carrier of COVID-19), aimed at stopping the spread of the virus amongst staff and students. The University maintains its screening service was never intended to be asymptomatic testing service, noting that all positive tests would be confirmed by an NHS test. Cardiff University said their screening service has been successful in identifying hundreds of asymptomatic cases which were further confirmed by NHS testing. The testing system at Cardiff University involves students and staff giving a saliva sample, which undergoes a PCR swab test, where students and staff will get their results usually within 48 hours. The saliva-based testing used by the University is based on FDA protocols used in the United States of America, where studies have shown that saliva testing is often as sensitive in terms of viral load. People with a positive test from the university will then be asked to get a NHS COVID-19 test to confirm their results. According to Mr Evans, who worked as a service manager at the Cardiff University testing centre in August and September whilst the system was still being developed, the university were attempting to introduce the service “at pace”, before the system was ready.

Mr Evans believes the university needed more time to validate the system so that false positives and false negatives would not occur. Mr Evans told the BBC, “You couldn’t trust the test results, fundamentally there’s no trust in any of the test results. So all of those students will be giving saliva under false pretences that you can get a result back either positive or negative”. “The whole process needed a few more months and a bit more validation, a bit more accreditation, a bit more forethought and then, yes, it would have been a really good service” he added. Cardiff University has rejected Mr Evans’ claims, with a Cardiff University spokesperson noting, “We completely reject the claim that our screening service was not ready to go live”. A Cardiff University spokesperson has claimed that the University does recognise, however, that there were initially some reservations about testing asymptomatic individuals during the summer of 2020. Despite this, the University maintains that cases of asymptomatic individuals were contributing to the spread of COVID-19, and that asymptomatic cases of COVID are more common amongst young adults. A spokesperson continued, saying the Cardiff University validation processes are vigourous and thorough, basing their result on “wellestablished PCR technology with 4 independent loci using multiplex technology”. “During the summer of 2020 and after discussion with PHW, we were acutely aware of the fact that public health (NHS) labaratories used a swab-based PCR test, and that supplies of test reagents and swabs were in global short supply”. “We used our expertise to build a screening pipeline that did not compete for equipment and reagents in demand by the NHS; in this way we would build a complementary service rather than compete with critically short reagants.” Cardiff University notes any staff or student with symptoms of COVID-19 should always get a secondary test with the NHS to confirm whether or not they have the virus.

COVID-19 vaccine: After a slow start, the first four priority groups in Wales will receive a first dose of the vaccine. Source: US Secretary of Defense (via Wikimedia Commons)

COVID-19 vaccine roll-out on track Sam Portillo News Editor

R T Davies head of Welsh Conservatives Morgan Perry Politics Editor

ndrew R T Davies has been confirmed as the new head of the Welsh Conservative Party after the resignation of Paul Davies, following an alleged breach of COVID-19 regulations. Davies has been re-elected as Party Leader following the incident with Paul Davies, who resigned on January 23. Andrew R. T. Davies will now lead the Welsh Conservative Party into the Senedd elections this coming May. To read more about the re-appointment of Andrew R.T. Davies, turn to page 10. 10

coverage. The first dose of the vaccine is contuining to go to vulnerable individuals across Wales before they will begin recalling patients for their booster vaccine to enhance their immunity against the virus. During the initial stages of the vaccine mass roll-out in December and at the beginning of the year, Wales were under scrutiny, as the nation was behind other parts of the UK in administering the vaccine.

Around 80 percent of over-80s and health workers have now received their first dose of the vaccine, meaning Wales is back on track. Wales has since been floating at the top of the global leaderboard for administering vaccines. Turn to page 3 to learn more about Wales' vaccine roll-out tactics, what we know so far, and clarification on when students are likely to get their first dose. 3

Eisteddfod yn The Six Nations cael ei ohirio eto breakdown Nel Richards

Golygydd Taf-od

e fydd yn flwyddyn arall heb gymdeithasu mewn cae, pabell na stondin Eisteddfodol. Mae'r cyhoeddiad wedi dod bod Eisteddfod Genedlaethol 2021 yn Nhregaron wedi'i ohirio am flwyddyn yn ychwanegol. Bydd yr Eisteddfod nawr yn cael ei gynnal yn Nhregaron yn Awst 2022. Ceir y newyddion yn fuan wedi i ni clywed na fydd Eisteddfod yr Urdd yn cael ei chynnal eleni chwaith, o ganlyniad i'r cyfnod clo a COVID-19. I ddarllen yn fwy am beth sy'n digwydd i'r Eisteddfod, a'r effaith y bydd hyn yn cael ar diwylliant Cymru, trowch i dudalen 8. 8

Tom Walker

Head of Sport

s we prepare for the 2021 Six Nations tournament, Gair Rhydd Sport give a run-dow n of what's to come, what's to expect and predictions from the team. In a year unlike any other, the Six Nations will be operating slightly differently to usual, with the Welsh team having to face no fire from a home crowd. After the news of Josh Adams' suspension from the Welsh team following allegations of breaking COVID-19 restrictions, it'll be an interesting championship. To read more about this year's Six Nations, and predictions from our 24 team, head to page 24.

EDITORIAL

At Gair Rhydd we take seriously our responsibility to maintain the highest possible standards. We may occasionally make mistakes, however if you believe we have fallen below the standards we seek to uphold, please email editor@gairrhydd.com. Opinions expressed in editorials and opinion pieces are not reflective of Cardiff Student Media, who act as the publisher of Gair Rhydd in legal terms, and should not be considered official communications or the organisation’s stance. Gair Rhydd is a Post Office registered newspaper.

THE TEAM Coordinator

Elaine Morgan

Editor-in-Chief Tirion Davies

Deputy Editors

Hallum Cowell Holly Giles Molly Govus

Head of Digital Media Tom Leaman

Video Editors

Lottie Draycott Sophia Grace Scarlett Griffith Ellis Lloyd-Jones Daniel O’Callaghan

Graphics Editor

Ellie Hutchings

Copy Editors

Megan Newberry Amy Saunders Elle Speer

IN THIS ISSUE

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Can cinema survive in a streaming world?

t was announced that the next James Bond film, No Time To Die, will have yet another delayed release date due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Having been pushed back twice, the film’s official website is now stating the film will debut globally on October 8 2021, though its original release date was set for April 2020. The news comes following the announcement of further push backs of other films as cinemas remain closed for the foreseeable future. Cinema giant Vue told the BBC that these delays were “understandable”, and that continuing to push for a full cinema release “is further testament to our shared belief in a bright future for the big screen”. Despite this, there is speculation that makers of the Bond flick are hoping to delay the release date in order to maximise the profit they will make. The last Bond film to be released, 2015’s Spectre, took almost £690m at worldwide box offices. Many major blockbusters have taken to releasing their 2020 and 2021 titles to streaming platforms. Disney+ were the first, releasing their live-action remake of Mulan to the streaming platform in September, though at the time at a fee of £50. Disney released its next feature directly to the Disney+ platform

on Christmas Day, with 651,000 households in the UK streaming Soul over the Christmas period, according to Samba TV. Warner Brothers Studios released Wonder Woman 1984 onto HBO Max in late 2020, with a limited number of theatres worldwide showing the film. Over the past year of this pandemic, it’s unlikely many have been to see more than two films in the cinema. With streaming services like Netflix investing in high-budget films with a star-studded cast, it will be interesting to see whether cinemas are as popular as they once were when they are able to re-open. Christopher Nolan’s Tenet was released in cinemas after countless delays. Yet, although the film grossed £266m worldwide, it was not enough to convince film giants that cinema releases during a COVID-19-age are feasible. With ways of grossing money and pay-outs from streaming platforms, companies are beginning to turn to online alternatives more and more. The jam-packed theatres we’ve come to experience on premiere nights of films like Avengers: Endgame could not work in a world where COVID-19 is looming around every corner. As the world continues to adapt to the new norms, only time will tell whether cinemas can survive in a cautious, post-COVID-19 world.

NEWS

The Welsh vaccine programme: where are we? (p.3)

Gall sinema bodoli yn byd newydd, llifeiriol?

TAF-OD

Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yn cael ei ganslo (t.9)

POLITICS

Andrew RT Davies and Welsh Conservatives (p.10)

COMMENT

Being single in a pandemic (p.14)

ADVICE

Valentine’s in lockdown (p.16)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Oral contraceptives to be used on squirrels in the UK (p.18)

@CAERDYDD

The Historic sites you forgot about (p.22)

SPORT

The full run-down of the Six Nations (p.25)

Sinema yn byd llifeiriol: Gall sinema bodoli yn y byd newydd, llifeiriol, heb i ni ddychwelyd i’r sinema. Tarddiad: Tumisu (drwy Pixabay)

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Cinema in a streaming world: Can cinema survive in a new streaming world dominated by the new streaming services like Netflix, Amazon and Disney+? Source: Tumisu (via Pixabay)

n diweddar, daeth y cyhoeddiad bod ffilm newydd y gyfres James Bond, No Time To Die, yn mynd i gael ei ohirio cyn cael ei symud i’r sinema o ganlyniad i’r pandemig COVID-19. Wedi i’r ffilm cael ei ohirio dwywaith yn olynol, mae gwefan y ffilm nawr yn sôn ei bydd yn cael ei rhyddhau’n rhyngwladol ar Hydref 8, er yr oedd y ffilm yn wreiddiol fod ei rhyddhau ym mis Ebrill 2020. Er bod nifer o lunwyr ffilm wedi nodi ei bod yn gohirio’r ffilmiau er mwyn achub y busnes sinema, mae nifer wedi nodi mae’n bosib bod y ffilm James Bond wedi’i ohirio er mwyn uchafu’r arian y byddent yn disgwyl ennill yn y sinemâu. Pan ryddhawyd y ffilm ddiweddaraf Bond yn 2015, llwyddodd y ffilm i ennill bron £690m o bunnoedd yn rhyngwladol. Mae nifer o ffilmiau mawr 2020 a 2021 wedi’i rhyddhau’n syth i wasanaethau ar-lein megis Netflix a Disney+. Disney+ oedd y cyntaf i wneud hyn dros y cyfnod clo, yn rhyddhau ei ffilm Mulan ym mis Medi, ond ar y cyfnod yn gofyn am £50 yn ychwanegol. Ar ddiwedd 2020, rhyddhawyd Warner Brothers’ Studios y ffilm Wonder Woman 1984 ar HBO Max, gyda nifer bach o sinemâu ar draws y byd hefyd yn dangos y ffilm. Rhyddhawyd Disney ei ffilm ddiweddaraf, Soul, yn syth i Disney+

ar Ddiwrnod Nadolig, gyda 651,000 o deuluoedd ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig yn ei wylio dros gyfnod y Nadolig, yn ôl Samba TV. Wrth i’r cyfnod clo dod yn hirach ac yn hirach, mae nifer eang ohonom erbyn hyn gyda thanysgrifiad i ryw fath o wefan llifeirio. Gyda gwefannau fel Netflix yn buddsoddi miloedd o bunnoedd i greu ffilmiau i’w wefan, y bydd hi’n ddiddorol gweld os bydd y sinema dal i fod yn boblogaidd erbyn diwedd y pandemig. Dros yr haf, fe wnaeth ffilm Christopher Nolan, Tenet, cael ei rhyddhau i’r sinema, wedi iddo gael ei ohirio tro ar ôl tro. Er i’r ffilm llwyddo i ennill £266m o bunnoedd yn rhyngwladol, nad oedd hyn digon i fusnesau mawr ffilm rhyddhau rhagor o ffilmiau yn oed COVID-19. Fel busnes sydd wedi’i heffeithio’n wael gan y pandemig, mae nifer o sinemâu ledled y wlad ar fyn cael eu cau. Yn anffodus, yn ystod cyfnod COVID-19, does dim modd cadw sinema ar agor. Ni all theatrau bach, gorlawn, gweithio ar nosweithiau agoriad ffilmiau pan bod y pandemig dal i barhau ac i waethygu’n wythnosol. Mae’r profiad o wylio ffilmiau adref yn hollol wahanol i’r hen brofiad o’i wylio yn y sinema. Ond, wrth fod y byd yn parhau i newid, y bydd hi’n ddiddorol gweld os gall sinema parhau yn fyd petrusgar wedi’r pandemig.

NODYN GAN Y GOLYGYDD

COVID-19 vaccine roll-out on track

The top 4 priority groups will receive a dose by mid-February Sam Portillo News Editor

elsh vaccinators have provided a first dose of the COVID-19 jab to 62 percent of people in the top four priority groups, according to new figures from Public Health Wales. After a faulty start, this means the country is now on track to meet its mid-February target for 100 percent coverage. Following advice from UK medical boards, the Welsh Government is prioritising delivering one dose to all vulnerable individuals before recalling patients for a second jab to enhance protection. Around 80 percent of over80s and a similar proportion of health workers - demographics identified as high-risk by scientific advisers - have now received a first dose. In the first weeks of the vaccination effort, First Minister Mark Drakeford received widespread criticism for suggesting that the Welsh Government needed to hold back vaccine supplies so the “system can absorb it”. His assertions that the vaccination programme was a “marathon” and “not a sprint” only exacerbated anxieties around the management of the project. Ministers gave various reasons for the initial pace of the rollout. Education Minister Kirsty Williams MS cited logistical challenges, arguing that it would take time to build an effec-

COVID-19 vaccine: After a slow start, the first four priority groups will receive a dose. Source: US Secretary of Defense (via Wikimedia Commons) tive delivery and distribution system. between the actual vaccination and Health Minister Vaughan Gething publication of data, verifying that pacited Wales’s lack of appropriate infra- tients have not been double-counted, structure, such as storage units that can for example. keep the Pfizer supplies at the -70°C So far, the Pfizer-BioNTech model temperature they need, while the First accounts for around three-quarters of Minister himself pointed towards the all vaccines that have been delivered in comparative efficiency of Wales’s roll- Wales. Unlike conventional vaccines, out and how they were keeping supply it contains a sample of coronavirus wastage to a minimum. mRNA - the virus’s equivalent of DNA Furthermore, the vaccination data in - which triggers the human immune Wales can be up to five days out of date system to build coronavirus antibodby the time it is published by Public ies as though actually infected. This Health Wales. Welsh figures are there- version of the vaccine must be kept at fore inherently, to some extent, behind -70°C to preserve the mRNA, and only England’s, for example, which releases remains usable for three days after beits data in “real-time”. Officials have ing taken out of storage. claimed this is due to the thorough The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine checking procedure that takes place however is more conventional in its

composition, containing a deactivated sample of the virus which is unable to reproduce, and therefore ‘infect’ the body, but still instructs the immune system to produce antibodies. As an increasing number of doses of this model are produced, the rate at which Wales and other UK nations can distribute the vaccine will increase. On the other end of the process, the destination of the vaccine is another factor that has been said to affect speed. In recent weeks, Wales has opened more GP surgeries, mass vaccination centres and mobile units where patients can receive the vaccine, effectively widening the frontline. In earlier weeks, too, vaccinators were primarily working towards care home residents who were largely unable to travel to a distribution centre, and so the NHS faced logistical challenges getting the jab to them. In recent weeks, an increasing number of health and social care workers have been receiving the jab - people of all ages, who are more readily able to travel to a distribution centre. In the past week, Wales has been floating at the top of the global leaderboard for the rate of vaccination, above its UK neighbours, who are also doing well. While the newfound speed is assuring, the effort is far from over: only around 1 in 5 adults in Wales have received a single jab, and every approved vaccine to date requires two for proper protection. The effort is far from over.

NEWS

YOUR NEWS DESK

Zoe Kramer

Luthien Evans

Rare snow in Wales causes road hazards Luthien Evans News Editor

now in Wales has been, for many, a joyous affair- a moment of winter bliss within the lockdown period. The beauty of the snow has allowed for an enjoyable experience of winter. A time for families and housemates to build snowmen together and create joyous winter memories. In the past two weeks, snowfall hit many areas of Wales- 13 of the 22 Welsh counties receiving weather warnings this past week. Snowfall has been warned to be reaching levels of five centimeters in the week commencing Monday 1 February. Snow warnings have been made in South Wales, including Cardiff, for Sunday 7 February. This makes it the third weekend it has snowed in Wales. However, this winter affair has not been a joyous occasion for all in Wales. Reports have been confirmed of multiple crashes, ice warnings, road and vaccination center closures.

Last week, ice warnings were administered covering all of Wales, not including Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. The police in Pembrokeshire confirmed the news of two separate crashes on the same road caused by snow disruption. This caused the road, Preseli Mountain road, to be closed. Comments from The Met Office even sent out warnings for East Wales and the north Midlands of ‘a period of freezing rain’, pertaining to dangerous driving conditions, with the potential for further road closures. Furthermore, in North Wales, snowfall and weather warnings predicted 15 centimeters of snowfall specifically on high ground. This forced the continuation of two Covid-19 vaccination centres being closed due to the weather conditions, these are located in Merthyr Tydfil and Abercynon, Rhondda Cynon Taf. The two vaccination sites plan to reopen soon, and closed only for precautionary reasons. Appointments have been rescheduled for a later date,

Sam Portillo

Snow Flurry: There has been snow across Wales, causing traffic accidents and delays. Source: Jeremy Segrott (via Wikimedia Commons) to minimise disruptions to the vacci- achieve the clearing to avoid cancelnation rollout in North Wales. lations for those most vulnerable. A This follows reports in January of representative for the hospital comvolunteers in Bridgend cleared the mented on the heroic deeds, thanking snow in the Maesteg community hos- them for allowing the administering pital to allow for the vulnerable to get of 300 more vaccination jabs for the their Covid-19 vaccination. over-80s and the medically vulnerable The volunteers rallied together to that day.

Dominic Williams news@gairrhydd.com

£9.4m invested in children’s mental health service in Wales Dominic Williams News Editor

t was announced by Ms. Morgan, the Minister for mental health, wellbeing and Welsh language that £9.4million is going to be invested to help schools and more specialist mental health services for young people across Wales. This extra funding adds to the Welsh government’s pledge to have a projected minimum spend of £738 million to address mental health issues in society for 2021-22. The Welsh Government has boosted support for mental health services because of the increased levels of anxiety in Wales during the pandemic, and the anticipated increase in mental

Mental Health: The funding will help students and young people deal with the mental toll of COVID-19. Source: Tumisu (via Pixabay) health issues. being support in schools as part of the With research showing mental Whole Systems Approach. health issues predominantly start A further £5.4m funding will go towhen people are children or young wards CAMHS (Child and Adolescent people, an additional £4m will be Mental Health Services) to support made available to improve access to young people who need more intenemotional and mental health well- sive support, both in the community

and in specialist mental health in-patient services. Ms.Morgan, said: “We know that young people’s normal routines have been disrupted, they’ve been in and out of schools throughout the year and separated from friends and support networks.’’ While Education Minister Kirsty Williams has commented on the investment saying: ‘’As part of our whole school approach, we are working together both inside the school and those outside to make sure every child and young person knows where to go for emotional help and feels well supported. This £4m of will make a significant difference to this programme and will improve the resources and services available to children and young people in these challenging

We are working together both inside the school and those outside to make sure every child and young person knows where to go for emotional help and feels well supported.

times.’’ There will also be more counselling and emotional support for school children available, contributing towards their overall health, well-being, emotional health and resilience.

NEWS

Search for three fishermen missing off Conwy coast continues into second week Sam Portillo News Editor

he extensive search for three fishermen who were last seen off Rhos-on-Sea has continued into its second week. The Nicola Faith fishing boat was expected back at midnight on Wednesday 27 January, although did not return to harbour when it was due. It was reported missing to the HM Coastguard just over 10 hours later, on Thursday morning, at which point the emergency services were contacted and a search began for the three fishermen lost on the boat. The vessel was boarded by 20 year old Alan Minard, 39 year old Ross Ballantine and 34 year old skipper, Carl McGrath. Mr Minard’s family believe that the crew were dropping lobster pots at the time they went missing, a clue they hope will narrow the breadth of the search, with specific parts of the sea most likely to find the shellfish. The Coastguard reassigned rescue teams from nearby Rhyl, Bangor and Llandudno to assist in the search, also resourcing lifeboats from Conwy. Paul Frost, a volunteer for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in Rhyl, explained that the search demands a lot of resources because of the uncertainty in the boat’s most recent location. “It is literally hundreds of square miles. The area searched is something like 30 miles across, by about 15 miles out, as well. That’s why so many resources have been utilised, to try and search the area adequately,” he said. The rescue mission endured through Tuesday until approximately 9pm, when the in-shore lifeboats, helicopter and fixed-wing plane were recalled. The all-weather lifeboats stayed at sea longer into the night hoping to see signs of life, but unfortunately to no avail. As is always the case when individuals are reported missing, the local police force were also involved in the response. The friends of the fishermen assisted rescue teams on the coastline search for debris, in the case that the boat capsized and broke apart. Mr McGrath’s girlfriend, Amy Lamb, told reporters she was “heartbroken”. “I just want him to be home and safe,” she said. Local boatowners have also remained vigilant while at sea and will communicate with the emergency services in the event of any developments. After Mr McGrath’s sister appealed for information on social media, she was subjected to a sick prank, with a caller from Australia claiming they had “shot the boat down”. “This is absolutely disgusting that anyone would prank call making a joke about the situation,” a member of the family posted on Facebook. The rescue teams and locals continue to tirelessly search for the three men, but everyone involved knows that results must come soon.

Refurbishment completed on Roath Park Clocktower Dominic Williams News Editor

efurbishment on the Roath Park Clocktower has finished following a period of it being covered by scaffolding for refurbishment purposes. As formally known the Scott Memorial Clock Tower was erected in 1915 as a memorial to Captain Scott and companions who sailed from the port of Cardiff on an expedition to reach the South Pole. The Scott Memorial Clock Tower was then presented to the city in 1918 once work had been completed. In the late 1970s, a new movement for the clock was required, partly financed by a contribution from the Lord Pontypridd bequest fund totalling £4,534. The work included the installation of an electricity cable from the promenade and floodlighting of the clock faces. The clocktower has now been repainted and lights are added due to the work of Andy Temple who arranged this in memory of his mum, and late wife. Residents of Cardiff have applauded the effort of Andy Temple and have commended the work done to the clocktower. It has been described as an “Incredibly kind and thoughtful gift, he has

given the community and an amazing way to honor his family.’’ It is clear that the Clocktower that acts as the mantelpiece to Roath Lake is greatly appreciated by people in the community. Cabinet member for culture and leisure, Cllr Peter Bradbury, said: ‘’This kind donation will make a Roath Park and to the many people who visit it each year and to the many people who visit each year and importantly, serve as a fantastic tribute to the lives of two people who were clearly very much-loved.’’ The Scott Memorial Clock Tower serves as an ever-popular attraction and has stood proud in the park for more than 100 years. Therefore, the recent refurbishment has left a feel-good factor for members of the community, in bringing the clocktower back to its former glory. Gairr Rhydd spoke to Mr. Temple about the unveiling of the recent Refurbishment of the clockhouse. Mr. Temple said: “Turning the lights on the lighthouse Friday evening for the first time was pinnacle it was the final touch to the lighthouse, quite emotional, but so worth it.’’ Furthermore, Mr. Temple spoke about the online response saying: “The response online has been amazing and

Roath Park Clocktower: Originally built in 1915, the clocktower has now been restored to its old glory. Source: Robin Drayton (via Geograph) very overwhelming, it has given Cardiff such a boost in these dark times of COVID-19, it is a landmark for everybody to admire. It was my intention to try and restore the lighthouse to its former glory and the lights were the icing on the cake, it shines like a beacon and well worth every penny, putting a smile on every-

body’s faces! Also in memory of two very special ladies in my life, my late wife and mum.’’ Mr. Temple was also able to enter the tower during the refurbishment saying: “What a privilege it was to be able to go inside of the tower, it was very narrow the higher the level you went but an experience I will always remember...’’

Music venue and leisure centre The Tramshed for sale Zoe Kramer

Head of News

he Tramshed, a beloved Cardiff live music venue, is for sale for £3.2m. The 57,088 sq ft building, which until 2015 remained unused, doubles as an office space and yoga studio when it’s not hosting high-profile gigs. The building also includes a cinema, a cafe, and over 30 apartments. However, even if the building doesn’t sell imminently, it will still host concerts COVID-19 permitting, as it will be leased by the events company for another ten years. A spokeswoman for TEG MJR said: “We have a long term lease at Tramshed and look forward to working with the future owners of the building in bringing the best live music and events to Cardiff. “ The building is listed as Grade II and was originally built as a tram depot in 1902. The Tramshed nearly closed last

summer over a planning dispute. There had been plans for a new flat to be built behind the building, which would have prevented artists from having access to the car park, which is essential for loading in equipment. However, the plans were dropped, and the Tramshed remained open. The pandemic has been a difficult time for musicians. Polls across two lockdowns showed that 38% of musicians were lacking support and 19% were considering quitting music. The industry as a whole was cut in half last year, with concerts, gigs and festivals being cancelled. Music creators lost an estimated 65% of their income. Despite the hardships of the pandemic, Wales’ music scene has continued to survive. In November, the nation celebrated the Welsh Music Prize with a digital ceremony after the panel of judges met over Zoom to deliberate. The 2020 winner was Deyah for her album Care City. The ceremony also revealed Eädyth, Mace The Great and Malan as recipients of the Triskel Award, an honour designed to recognise and support

The Tramshed: Though it may not look like much from the outside, The Tramshed is a cultural centre. Source: Jaggery (via Wikimedia Commons) the talent of up-and-coming young artists. The Tramshed was recently host to the Immersed! festival, a showcase of talent from South Wales which was broadcast digitally. Additionally, the Forté Project, an artistic development programme, selected two young Cardiff musicians to join its ranks. KINGKHAN and Mari Matias will receive support and masterclasses to jumpstart

their careers for post-COVID-19 success, thanks to funding from the Arts Council of Wales and the PRS Foundation. The Lead Officer of the Forté Project, Spike Griffiths, said, “Even though the past 12 months have been crushing for the music industry, it feels great to finally say that something good has emerged from such challenging times.”

4-year-old discovers dinosaur footprint in Barry Luthien Evans News Editor

he newest Welsh archaeologist has been discovered. A single dinosaur footprint has been located on a lockdown walk in Barry, near Bendricks Bay- there was no sign of the accompanying footprint. The amazingly preserved footprint was discovered by 4-year old Lily Wilder. The discovery was shoulder height for the young girl, which she pointed out to her father, who was accompanying her on the walk. The father took pictures to share with his family, who encouraged him to share with local experts for examination. The print has been predicted to have been preserved for 220 million years. The footprint length stands at 10 centimeters; however, it has not been identified as to which type of dinosaur was the culprit. Cindy Howells, paleontology curator for the National Museum of Wales, discussed

Old stomping grounds: Many similar footprints have been found in the region, including the one pictured above. Source: Alan Hughes (via Geograph) with NBC News, that deductions for actively hunted other small animals dinosaur type can be determined. She and insects’. commented on the likelihood that the The impressive find has been apdinosaur ‘stood at 75 centimeters tall proved to be removed and will be and 2.5 meters long’, she also added preserved in the National Museum that it would have been a dinosaur Cardiff for future education. The site that ‘walked on its two hind legs and is currently being protected as a Site

of Special Scientific Interest. However, this has not stopped attempts from many people trying to remove rocks of their own or damage those already there. It has been warned that people doing so without permission may obtain a fine of up to £20,000 for these illegal acts. Precautions were put in place to avoid a media or fossilenthusiast storm of the area- this was by allowing media stories to run only after the fossil had been removed. Barry’s Bendrick’s Bay has been notorious for dinosaur footprint findings. Bendrick Rock boasts footprints of different sizes and kinds- large and small, plant-eating and meat-eating. Some of the prints found are a staggering 7-8 meters long. Many trackways can also be found at the site. The fines, therefore, hold ground as previous illegal removals of such have occurred. In 2005, slabs of rock with dinosaur footprints were taken and appeared for sale online. In context, this makes the fines justified.

LGBTQ+

Join us in celebrating the rich diversity of the LGBTQ+ community and educating out prejudice. For more information visit cardiffstudents.com/ LGBTQHistoryMonth

TAF-OD

taf od

Barn y Bobol

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cynllunio prosiect gwerth £40 miliwn o bunnoedd i wella gwasanaethau ad ad-dalu myfyrwyr mewn llety prifysgol. Ond nid yw hyn yn gymmwys i fyfyrwyr mewn preswyl preifat. Felly beth sydd well gan fyfyrwyr Caerdydd? Dyma farn Mali, Gwion a Beca ar y fatrer.

Mali Hire

Myfyrwraig yr ail flwyddyn, Cerddoriaeth Fel myfyrwraig yn yr ail flwyddyn, mae’r sefyllfa o ran ad-dalu rhent yn rhwystredig. Rwy’n fles iawn fod y Brifysgol bellach wedi cyhoeddi ad-daliadau i fyfyrwyr ym mhreswylfeydd prifysgol, ond yn bersonol ni fyddaf yn derbyn unrhyw cymorth gan fy mod yn rhenti tŷ yn breifat. Rwy’n ffodus bod modiwlau ymarferol yn parhau ar fy nghwrs felly roedd rhaid i mi ddychwelyd i Gaerdydd, ond credaf dylai fod cymorth ariannol gan y Brifysgol neu’r Llywodraeth i’r rhai sy’n colli allan ar amser yn y tai y maent yn talu amdano. Yn enwedig wrth ystyried roedd rhaid talu rhent trwy gydol Rhagfyr, er roedd disgwyl i ni adael

Gwion Jones

Myfyriwr y flwyddyn gyntaf Gwleidyddiaeth Gan fy mod wedi bod yn ol yn y Brifysgol ers dechrau mis Ionawr, credaf fod llawer o fyfyrwyr wedi bod mewn neuaddau preswyl am yn agos i yr un hyd a blynyddoedd cynt felly buasai ad-daliad rhent ddim ond yn ychydig wythnosau. Ar y llaw arall, mae’r straen mae’r pandemig wedi rhoi ar lles myfyrwyr yn cael ei tanddatgan, felly mae’r £40miliwn gyhoeddodd y gweinidog addysg am fod yn help llaw anghenrheidiol i fyfyrwyr sydd yn ei gwled hi’n anodd. Ond mae’n bwysig fod myfyrwyr yn theimlo budd yr arian ychwanegol yn uniongyrchol.

Beca Alwyn

Myfyrwraig yr ail flwyddyn Ffiseg a Ffiseg Meddygol Os yw’r brifysgol am dderbyn arian i wasanaeth prifysgolion, byddai’r arian yn help i ad-dalu myfyrwyr preswylfeydd prifysgol, ond oni bai am hyn dwi ddim yn credu mai buddsoddi yn y gwasanaeth yw’r dull mwya effeithiol. Ydy, mae llwyth gwaith y darlithwyr wedi cynyddu o ran darparu gwasanaeth ar lein, ond mae myfyrwyr wedi colli mas yn fwy na hyn. Yn ogystal a cholli oriau dysgu gwyneb yn wyneb, nid yw myfyrwyr fel fi yn derbyn ad-daliad rhent preifat. Dwi’m yn disgwl derbyn ad-daliad Buasai man canol lle gall myfyrwyr derbyn ad-daliad preswylfeydd a cymorth ariannol i’r rhai sy’n talu rhent preifat, dyna buase ore.

Pêl droed: Ashley Williams yn ymddeol o bêl-droed (tudalen 8)

NEWYDDION

Prifysgolion yn parhau ar-lein i fis Mawrth

Bydd myfyrwyr yn dechrau’r ail semester gyda darlithoedd rhithiol Alaw Fflur Jones Golygydd Taf-od

n dilyn cyhoeddiad diweddaraf Llywodraeth Cymru, bydd mwyafrif o’r dysgu ym Mhrifysgolion Cymru yn parhau ar-lein nes ddydd Gwener 26 Mawrth. Bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn penderfynu ar yr hyn fydd yn digwydd nesaf yn ei diweddariad yng nghanol mis Chwefror. Ond tan hynny, disgwylir i fyfyrwyr aros adref gan gwblhau eu darlithoedd ar-lein. Mae rhaglenni iechyd ac ymarferol, lle mae sesiynau ar y campws yn angenrheidiol yn parhau wyneb yn wyneb. Ac felly gall y myfyrwyr hynny ddychwelyd i’w tai/preswylfeydd prifysgol. Ond, anogir i bob myfyriwr arall aros adref gan osgoi cymdeithasu a theithio diangen. Does dim sicrwydd pryd fydd myfyrwyr yn cael dychwelyd. Ond, mae’r Prifysgolion yn gobeithio y medrant gynnig fwy o addysgu wyneb yn wyneb ar ôl y Pasg. Cam yn ôl Mae myfyrwyr wedi gorfod addasu i’r sefyllfa bresennol, gan ddechrau’r ail semester o bell. Mae hyn yn ‘gam yn ôl’ o gymharu â’r semester diwethaf, lle’r oedd rhaglenni yn cynnig rhai darlithoedd wyneb yn wyneb yn ogystal â darlithoedd ar-lein. “Do ni ddim wedi disgwyl gorffen fy semester olaf

ar-lein nol ym mis Medi, ond yn amlwg mae’n rhaid addasu i’r argyfwng rydym ynddi.” meddai Rhodri Davies, myfyriwr o’r drydedd flwyddyn ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd. Fel myfyrwraig sy’n astudio meddygaeth ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd, mae Mirain Grug Davies o’r ail flwyddyn yn parhau gyda’i darlithoedd ar-lein ond yn mynychu’r campws “unwaith yr wythnos i wneud sgiliau clinigol.” Mae Rhodri a Mirain fel sawl myfyriwr arall wedi eu “siomi”. Ond yn cydnabod pa mor anodd yw’r sefyllfa bresennol ac yn gwerthfawrogi ymdrechion y brifysgol a’r darlithwyr wrth “ddarparu addysg orau posib dan yr amgylchiadau ansicr hyn”. ‘Colli allan’ Er gwaethaf ymdrechion y Brifysgol, “nid yw’r trefniadau yn cyfateb a gofynion fy nghwrs” meddai Mirain. “Mae meddygaeth yn gwrs ymarferol iawn gyda lleoliadau, sgiliau clinigol a sesiynau anatomeg, ac felly heb sesiynau digonol ryw’n colli allan ar ddysgu ac ymarfer sgiliau hanfodol.” Er bod polisïau Rhwyd Ddiogelwch Prifysgol Caerdydd yn cefnogi’r egwyddor na ddylai unrhyw fyfyrwyr fod o dan anfantais o ran eu cyflawniad oherwydd pandemig y coronafeirws. Mae Mirain yn pryderu y bydd y diffyg mewn sesiynau ymarferol yn effeithio ar ei dyfodol. Er bod myfyrwyr yn ysu am ddychwelyd i normalrwydd gan ail-gydio ym

Dysgu o bell: Bydd darlithedd i gyd ar-lein hyd at ddiwedd mis Mawrth. Tarddiad: Tumisu (via Pixabay) mwrlwm arferol y brifysgol. Pwysleisia Rhodri Davies, nid yw’r addysgu “a’r lein yn ddrwg i gyd”. “Yn amlwg, dyw’r amgylchiadau ddim yn ddelfrydol. Ond ers troi at ddysgu ar-lein, dwi’n teimlo fod gen i fwy o amser i fod wrth fy nesg a chanolbwyntio ar fy ngwaith”. Er gwaetha’r heriau, a’r addysgu amgen, “dwi ddim yn teimlo dan anfantais.” Yn unol â cholli darlithoedd wyneb

yn wyneb, mae myfyrwyr wedi gorfod ffarwelio ac agweddau cymdeithasol y brifysgol. “Mae’n anoddach i ffeindio cymhelliant i wneud gwaith heb yr elfen gymdeithasol” meddai Mirain. Yn yr un modd pwysleisia Rhodri, “Mae’n dra gwahanol i’r blynyddoedd gynt.” Mae Prifysgolion yn cydnabod heriau sy’n wynebu myfyrwyr, ac felly yn cynnig gwasanaethau ac adnoddau cymorth a lles i fyfyrwyr.

Twf mewn nifer y podlediadau Cymraeg Annell Dyfri

Golygydd Taf-od

r y bu 2020 yn flwyddyn ddigon heriol i bob yr un ohonom, mae sawl agwedd bositif wedi amlygu ei hun ynghanol y tywyllwch. Mentrodd llu o bobl ifanc i sefydlu eu busnesau eu hunain, sefydlodd eraill wasanaethau cefnogi ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol tra mentrodd eraill i fyd adloniant gan lwyfanu cyngherddau rhithiol. Gyda phawb wedi’u gorfodi i aros gartref am gyfnod, gwelwyd twf yn y nifer o bobl aeth ati i wrando, cynhyrchu a chyflwyno podlediadau drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Yn syml iawn, trac

sain yw podlediad sy’n cynnwys sgyrsiau, darnau llenyddol neu gyfweliadau. Mae modd gwrando ar bodlediadau ar eich ffonau symudol, gliniaduron neu dabledi yn rhad ac am ddim. Proses gymharol syml yw creu podlediad, gyda’r angen am ychydig o offer yn unig megis meicroffon a meddalwedd sylfaenol ar gyfer y golygu. Yn sgil hyn, mae llawer wedi mentro gan fwrw ati i greu eu podlediadau eu hunain. Un sydd wedi bod yn greiddiol i’r datblygiad hwn yw Aled Jones, sefydlydd gwefan Pod Cymru, sy’n blatfform i storfa eang o bodlediadau cyfrwng Cymraeg. Fel un sydd wedi bod yn y diwydiant ers cryn amser, ategodd fod “twf mawr wedi bod yn y niferoedd o bodlediadau

Podlediadau di-ri: Mae llawer o bodeldiadau Cymraeg yn cael eu creu ar hyn o bryd. Tarddiad: John Martin (drwy Flickr)

sydd wedi cael eu cynhyrchu trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg yn 2020”. Nododd ‘ar ddechrau’r flwyddyn [2020] roedd yna 72 podlediad Cymraeg, erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn roedd dros 130, sy’n dangos poblogrwydd y ffurf yn ystod y cyfnod diweddar. Gyda phodlediadau Cymraeg yn ennyn mwy o sylw, nododd Aled Jones y “gwelwyd categori Cymraeg am y tro cyntaf erioed yn y British Podcast Awards (enillwyd gan Dwy Iaith, Un Ymennydd) a hefyd y sgil Alexa cyntaf yn y Gymraeg sy’n fodd o ddarganfod a gwrando ar bodlediadau Cymraeg (Dywedwch Alexa, Enable Welsh Language Podcasts).” Mae hyn oll yn adlewyrchu’r diddordeb cynyddol mewn podlediadau Cymraeg. Un sydd wedi bod wrthi’n golygu a chyflwyno ei bodlediad Malu ar yr awyr yw Deio Jones, myfyriwr trydedd flwyddyn ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd yn astudio Cymraeg a Newyddiaduraeth. Nododd mai’r hyn sy’n braf am bodlediadau “ydy eich bod chi’n cael persbectif mwy archolladwy o’r gwestai a’r cyflwynydd ar adegau gan fod naws llawer o bodlediadau’n eithaf ymlaciol, ac mae hynny’n gwneud i’r sgyrsiau deimlo’n llawer mwy cartrefol ac yn haws i ni fel gwrandawyr wrando ac ymgolli ynddynt”. Yn ogystal, dau fyfyriwr sydd wedi dechrau podlediad dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf yw Tom Moore ac Aled Biston. Wedi iddynt orfod stopio

cynhyrchu eu sioe radio ‘Taro’r Pyst’ o ganlyniad i bandemig COVID-19, roeddent wedi troi at greu podlediadau ar Youtube a Spotify: “Roedd methu cynhyrchu sioe radio yn siom fawr i ni, roeddem yn caru trafod chwaraeon yn wythnosol ac yn cael llawer o bobl yn gwrando ac yn mwynhau ein cynnwys” dywedodd Tom. Ychwanegodd Aled “Mae creu podlediadau nid yn unig wedi bod yn fodd inni barhau gyda’n cynnwys arferol, ond mae eu creu wedi rhoi rhywbeth i fi a Tom gwneud yn ystod y cyfnod clo. “Ar y dechrau, roeddem yn recordio’r bodlediadau dros Zoom, gyda Tom wedyn yn eu golygu cyn rhoi nhw ar YouTube. Pan ymlaciwyd cyfyngiadau, roeddem yn cwrdd tu allan ac yn recordio gyda system recordio, ac yna eu lanlwytho i Spotify”. ‘Taro’r Pyst’ yw un o nifer o sioeau radio sydd wedi troi’n bodlediadau dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. Ychwanegodd Aled Jones “Mae’r niferoedd sydd yn gwrando ar bodlediadau Cymraeg wedi gweld cynnydd mawr ac mae podlediadau newydd wedi bod o safon uchel iawn”. Ychwanegodd ei fod “yn edrych ‘mlaen at glywed mwy o gynyrchiadau newydd yn ystod 2021”. Gyda’r flwyddyn 2020 wedi gosod sylfeini cadarn ar gyfer y podlediad Cymraeg, dylai 2021 esgor ar gynnwys newydd cyffrous gyda mwy o Gymry Cymraeg creadigol yn mentro i’r maes.

TAF-OD

Pryd o Daf-od: Nansi Eccott Myfyrwraig yn ei blwyddyn gyntaf, Nansi Eccott, sydd tn Pryd o Daf-od yr wythnos hon. Wythnos yma, mae Nansi, sydd yn astuio’r Gymraeg a’r Gyfraith, yn trafod ei phrofiadau hi yn y brifysgol y flwyddyn hon. Gyda phrofiad eleni yn wahano, iawn i’r arfer o ganlyniad i gyfyngiadau COVID-19, nid yw Nansi wedi cael y breintiau o fyfyriwr arferol. Darllenwch wrth i Nansi son am effaith y cyfyngiadau, dychwelyd i addysg a chymdeithasu gyda phobl newydd.

gwneud yn fawr o’n hamser yma hyd yn hyn a chreu cymuned a chymdeithas Cymraeg clos, yn enwedig yma yn neuadd breswyl Llys Senghennydd, (wrth gadw dau fetr wrth gwrs.) Does dim amheuaeth ein bod ni, fel holl fyfyrwyr eraill y wlad, wedi, ac yn parhau, i golli mas ar yr elfennau cymdeithasol o fywyd prifysgol; profiad wythnos y glas, digwyddiadau’r cymdeithasau, cymysgu gyda myfyrwyr eraill (a noson mas go iawn!) Er hyn, mae’n wir i ddweud bod y brifysgol a chymdeithasau megis y GymGym, wedi gwneud eu gorau glas i geisio sicrhau croeso cynnes i ni fyfyrwyr sydd wedi dechrau ar ein blwyddyn gyntaf yma yng Nghaerdydd. Braf oedd gallu mynychu ambell ddigwyddiad cymdeithasol gyda’r GymGym cyn y Nadolig a threulio amser fel cymdeithas, er yr ymbellhau cymdeithasol. Roedd dychwelyd i addysg yn dipyn o sioc i mi yn bersonol, yn enwedig wrth i mi ddechrau cwrs newydd a heriol, heb sôn am y ffaith i mi beidio gorfod gwneud unrhyw waith ysgol am chwe mis! Roedd ail-ddechrau ar addysg, a hynny’n gwbl ar-lein yn fwy o sioc fyth wrth i mi orfod cyfarwyddo gyda’r pwnc a’r ffyrdd newydd o ddysgu oll drwy sgrin

oes dim dwywaith amdani fod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf yma wedi bod yn flwyddyn na fu ei debyg o’r blaen. Mae’r misoedd diwethaf wedi bod yn gyfnod o newid, yn enwedig i mi a’m cyd glas fyfyrwyr wrth i ni symud i ddinas anghyfarwydd, dechrau cyrsiau newydd a chwrdd ag amryw o ffrindiau gwahanol, oll yng nghyffiniau ein neuaddau preswyl. Gellir dadlau bod yr holl gyfyngiadau yma wedi ein gorfodi ni i ddod i nabod ein cyd-letywyr yn well ac efallai’n gyflymach na’r arfer. Er hyn, rydym ni’n ddigon lwcus ein bod ni wedi gallu

fy ngliniadur. Roedd hi’n rhyfedd i dreulio cyn lleied o amser ar y campws ac o fewn neuaddau ddarlithio yn ystod fy semester cyntaf ac mae’n edrych fel bydd yr un stori’n wir am semester y gwanwyn gyda’r brifysgol yn cyhoeddi na fydd dysgu wyneb yn wyneb yn ail gychwyn tan y 26ain o Fawrth fan gynharaf ar hyn o bryd. Rhaid cyfaddef bod y newyddion yma yn peri ychydig o ofid i mi, yn enwedig wrth feddwl am y llwyth gwaith a chyfnod arholiadau ac asesiadau sydd yn prysur nesáu. Blaenoriaethu iechyd myfyr-

Fi yw Lois Campbell a dwi’n astudio Cymraeg a Newyddiaduraeth.

8. Prosecco neu champagne?

2. Beth yw’r digwyddiad sy’n codi’r mwyaf o embaras arnat? Cwympo’n fflat ar fy wyneb o flaen tua 500 o bobl mewn maes awyr, ‘odd pawb yn chwerthin! 3. Beth oedd dy air cyntaf? Dad yn dweud mai ‘dad’ odd e, ond fi’n credu ei fod yn genfigennus mai ‘mam’ odd e mewn gwirionedd! 4. Pe fyddet ti ar yr X-Factor, pa gân byddet ti’n ei chanu a pham? Cwestiwn anodd! Naill ai ‘Dancing Queen’ neu ‘The Climb’, dwy gân eiconig! 5. Beth fyddet ti’n ei archebu o’r bwyty Indiaidd lleol?

Trafod gyda’r

taf-od

Alaw Fflur Jones

Profiad gwael ‘da’r ddau, ond proseco, mae’n rhatach! 9. Beth oedd y diwrnod gorau iti ei gael erioed?

Catrin Lewis

Rhaid ddweud mai weld yr haul yn codi dros y Taj Mahal yn India. Waw! 10. Beth yw dy gas beth? Llygod, llygod a llygod. Ych! 11. Beth fyddet ti’n gwneud yn ystod dy noson ddelfrydol? Cerddoriaeth, cocktails a cwmni ffrindie gorau. 12. Pe taset ti’n gallu bod yn unrhyw anifail am ddiwrnod, pa un fyddet ti’n dewis, a pham?

Boring iawn ond korma cyw iâr.

Cliche ond cleren fel bo’ fi’n gallu clywed y gossip i gyd!

6. Pwy oeddet ti’n ffansio pan oeddet ti’n iau?

13. Disgrifia dy hun mewn 3 gair.

Zac Efron yw’r unig ateb cywir!

Aled Biston

Profiad gwahanol: Mae profiad Nansi a’i chyd-fyfyrwyr wedi bod yn wahanol eleni. Tarddiad: Richard Lewis (drwy Flickr)

Lois Campbell

mwy cŵl, ond yn onest- Coldplay, 1D a Panic! At the disco!

EICH TÎM TAF-OD

Annell Dyfri

Yn Trafod gyda’r Taf-od wythnos yma mae...

1. Pwy wyt ti a beth wyt ti’n astudio?

wyr a staff y brifysgol sydd yn amlwg bwysicach ac ar y cyfan rwy’n teimlo bod y mesurau priodol ac effeithiol wedi cael eu gosod gan y brifysgol gyda darpariaeth a diweddariadau ar gael i ni’n weddol gyson trwy gydol yr amseroedd digynsail yma. Yn anffodus, does dim modd dweud ar hyn o bryd pryd fydd sefyllfa’r wlad o ran COVID-19 yn gwella. Serch hyn, rwy’n gobeithio gyda darpariaeth dosau’r brechlyn yn cynyddu yn ddyddiol, y bydd modd i ni glas fyfyrwyr, brofi rhyw fath o ‘normalrwydd’ yn y brif ddinas cyn hir.

Stwbwrn, dramatig, sentimental.

7. Pwy yw dy hoff fand/artist?

14. Pwy fydd yn trafod ‘da’r Taf-od wythnos nesaf?

Fi’n teimlo fel dylwn i enwi bandiau

Nansi Eccott

taf od Nel Richards

Antur ac alcohol: Lois allan yn cerdded wrth y mor ac yn mwynhau ar noson allan. Tarddiad: Lois Campbell tafod@gairrhydd.com www.gairrhydd.com/tafod

TAF-OD

Andrew RT Davies yn arweinydd newydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig Catrin Lewis

Golygydd Taf-od

n dilyn ymddiswyddiad Paul Davies o’i swydd fel arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymraeg diwedd mis Ionawr, mae Andrew RT Davies wedi camu i mewn i’r swydd. Cafodd y penderfyniad ei wneud gan y Ceidwadwyr Cymraeg a dyma fydd ei ail dro yn arwain y blaid. Cafodd Paul Davies ei ymddiswyddo yn dilyn cael ei ddal yn yfed alcohol ar dir y Senedd gyda rhai gwleidyddion eraill. Digwyddodd hyn ar ôl i alcohol cael ei wahardd yng Nghymru fel un o gyfyngiadau’r coronafeirws. Arweiniodd hyn at adlach gan y cyhoedd gyda sawl un yn siomedig i weld gwleidyddion yn anwybyddu’r rheolau. Roedd y Ceidwadwyr Cymraeg eisoes wedi cefnogi Paul Davies yn aros yn y swydd ond dywedodd Davies ei hun ei fod yn credu bod ei weithredoedd wedi “niweidio’r ymddiriedaeth” roedd pobl wedi ei roi iddo ac “yn dechrau tynnu sylw o’r gwaith o sicrhau atebolrwydd Llywodraeth Cymru Lafur.” Felly dyna’r rheswm tu ôl gwneud y penderfyniad a hynny mor gyflym. Disgrifiodd Andrew RT Davies derbyn ei rôl newydd fel rhywbeth oedd “yn anrhydedd ac yn fraint,” a thalodd deyrnged i’w rhagflaenydd gan ddweud bod yno “waith brys o’n blaenau” yn cyfeirio at yr etholiad Seneddol sy’n digwydd eleni. Mae wedi cyhoeddi pwy yw ei gabinet cysgodol yn barod ac mae’n cynnwys pedair o ferched. Fodd bynnag, mae Andrew RT Davies wedi achosi cryn dipyn o ddadl yn y gorffennol ar ôl iddo gymharu ail refferendwm Brexit gyda’r ymosodiadau terfysg ar y Capitol yn yr UDA ar gychwyn y flwyddyn. Yn ei drydar, cyfeiriodd at yr arweinydd Llafur Keir Starmer fel rhagrithiwr ar ôl iddo anghymeradwyo’r ymosodiadau ar y Capitol a gafodd eu hannog gan y cyn-arlywydd Donald Trump. Trydarodd Andrew RT Davies: “I’m not sure you’re in the strongest position right now given you campaigned to overturn democracy and the will of the British people,” a derbyniodd lawer o adlach am ddweud hynny. Wynebodd Davies alwadau i adael y Senedd yn gyfan gwbl ychydig o wythnosau yn ôl yn dilyn ei eiriau dadleuol ond ni ddigwyddodd hynny. Ymateb Adam Price, arweinydd Plaid Cymru, i Andrew RT Davies yn dod yn arweinydd diweddaraf y blaid oedd “Wedi’r gwrthdrawiad, dychwela’r gyrrwr sedd gefn i yrru Cymru am yn ôl. Wedi ei wrthod unwaith gan ei dîm ei hun yn y Senedd, bydd yn awr yn mynd ati gyda’i brosiect personol o ddileu pwerau’r Senedd a mynd â democratiaeth Cymru’n ôl ddegawdau.” Felly, ymatebion cymysg sydd wedi bod i’r penderfyniad ac mae’r pwysau ar y blaid yn cynyddu wrth i’r etholiad Seneddol agosáu.

NEWYDDION

Blwyddyn arall heb Eisteddfod Genedlaethol

Mae Eisteddfod Tregaron wedi cael ei ohirio hyd at Awst 2022 Nel Richards

Golygydd Taf-od

e fydd yn flwyddyn arall heb gymdeithasu mewn cae, pabell na stondin Eisteddfodol. Dim seremoni gadeirio na choroni byw eto eleni na chyngerdd na gig. Ai diogi ar y soffa fydd ein tynged eleni, unwaith eto? Trwy ddilyn canllawiau diweddar y Llywodraeth a gweithredu ar iechyd a diogelwch y cyhoedd, mae Uchelswyddogion yr Eisteddfod wedi cadarnhau eu bod am ohirio Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Ceredigion. Heb os, roedd y penderfyniad yn un anodd o ystyried fod diwylliant bregus Cymru yn dibynnu cymaint ar y penderfyniad. Anodd oedd dod i ateb syml wrth wynebu’r pandemig. Ond heb oedi, cyd-weithiodd y tîm, ac roedd penderfyniad cadarn wedi ei osod yn gadarn. Mewn datganiad, dywedodd Prif Weithredwr yr Ŵyl, Betsan Moses; “Fe ddaeth yn gynyddol amlwg yn ein trafodaethau parhaus gyda Llywodraeth Cymru ac Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru dros y misoedd diwethaf na fyddai modd cynnal Eisteddfod yn Nhregaron yn yr haf. ‘Does neb yn fwy siomedig am hyn na ni, ac mae gorfod cyhoeddi hyn am yr eildro yn rhywbeth anodd iawn i orfod ei wneud.” Yn gynt yn y flwyddyn, cyhoeddwyd ni fydd Eisteddfod yr Urdd yn digwydd, gydag Eisteddfod rhithiol yn cael

ei gynnal fel llynedd. Ond eleni, bydd mwy o gystadlaethau ar gael i bobl ifanc ledled Cymru. Yn ogsyatlm mae’ Sioe Frenhinol Cymru wedi cael ei ohirio am yr ail flwyddyn yn olynol, gyda phyrdyderon enfawr ynghyd â dyfodol y sioe o ran ariannu. Dywedodd Prif Weithredwr y sioe, Steve Hughson “Rydym yn parhau i weithio ochr yn ochr gyda Llywodraeth Cymru a Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru i greu Map Ffordd ar gyfer ailagor digwyddiadau yn ganolog i’r economi wledig... Er gwaeh=thaf yr heriau, mae’r Gymdeithas wedi camu ymlaen i gefnogi ein cymuned leol”. Ni fydd y sioe hanesyddol yn cymryd lle ym mis Mai felly, un o nifer o ddigwyddiadau enwog ni fydd yn cymryd lle eleni. Effaith negyddol ar y Gymraeg? Yn ddiweddar, ymddangosodd Prif Weinidog Cymru ar ein sgrîn yn rheolaidd, ac arwain y wlad drwy’r bandemig. Dywedodd bydd yr Ŵyl yn derbyn yr un fath o gefnogaeth ag arfer, gan gynnwys cefnogaeth ariannol, er na fydd Prifwyl draddodiadol yn cael ei gynnal ar ei adeg arferol. Er hyn, oes ‘na sicrwydd am gefnogaeth i’r Gymraeg yn ystod y flwyddyn, gan taw dyma un o ddigwyddiadau pwysicaf i’r iaith lle mae’n cael sylw mawr? Dywedodd Mark Drakeford yn ei ddatganiad: “Wrth gwrs dw i’n poeni am yr effaith ar yr iaith Gymraeg, dw i’n gwybod pwysigrwydd yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol i nifer fawr o bobol yma yng Nghymru.”

Y maes yn wag: Bydd maes yr Eisteddfod yn wag eto eleni. Tarddiad: Nel Richards Mae sawl un wedi codi pryderon ynglŷn â defnydd o’r Gymraeg mewn cyfnod mor ynysig. Gyda’r ysgolion wedi cau eu drysau, nid oes cymaint o blant yn clywed yr iaith fel yr arfer. Yn sgîl hyn, a llwyddiant y brosiect llynedd, fe fydd Eisteddfod AmGen yn parhau i ddiddanu’r genedl ar y sgrîn. Mynegodd Mr Drakeford mewn datganiad arall ynglŷn â chynlluniau tebyg: “Rwy’n siŵr bydd mwy o bethau creadigol yn ystod y flwyddyn sydd i ddod, ac y bydd yn gwneud i bobol feddwl am y profiadau maen nhw wedi i gael

yn barod a’r pethau rydym ni gyd eisiau ei wneud i gefnogi’r iaith Gymraeg a diwylliant Cymraeg yma yng Nghymru.” Wedi dathlu Dydd Miwsig Cymru yn ddiweddar, rydym fel cenedl yn cael ein hatgoffa o beth sydd gan Cymru ei gynnig fel rhan o’i phecyn creadigol sy’n reiddiol i’n diwylliant, a’r hyn rydym wedi’i golli dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. Yr unig beth allwn wneud yn awr, yw clirio’r calendrau, ei roi heibio, ac aros adre cyn teithio i Dregaron yn Haf 2022.

Ashley Williams yn ymddeol o bêl-droed proffesiynol Aled Biston

Pennaeth Taf-od

edi gyrfa gampus gyda chlybiau Hednseford, Stockport, Abertawe, Everton, Stoke a Dinas Bryste, mae cyn-gapten Cymru Ashley Williams, wedi ymddeol o bêldroed proffesiynol. Mae Williams wedi chwarae dros 700 gêm mewn gyrfa parhaodd dros 19 o flynyddoedd, gan gynnwys 86 gêm dros Gymru. Wedi iddo fod heb glwb ers dechrau’r tymor, cyhoeddodd Williams ei fod yn ymddeol, a daeth gyrfa un o chwaraewyr gorau Cymru erioed, i ddiwedd. Dechreuodd Williams ei yrfa yn academi West Bromwich Albion, ond rhyddhawyd gan y clwb yn 16 oed, cyn ymuno â Hednesford Town yn y cynghreiriau is. Wedi perfformiadau campus gyda nhw, arwyddodd i Stockport County yn 2003, cyn mynd ymlaen i gapteinio’r clwb yn League

One. Yn ystod ei gyfnod gyda Stockport, enillodd Williams ei gap cyntaf dros Gymru mewn gêm gyfeillgar yn erbyn Lwcsembwrg yn 2008. Roedd ei berfformiadau i Stockport wedi denu sylw CPD Abertawe, ac fe aeth ar fenthyg i’r clwb gan ei helpu i ddyrchafu i’r Bencampwriaeth. Arwyddodd i’r clwb yn barhaol y tymor canlynol, a dechreuodd ei daith anhygoel gyda’r Elyrch. Heb amau, Ashley Williams yw un o’r chwaraewyr gorau i wisgo crys gwyn Yr Elyrch. Yn ei amser yn Stadiwm y Liberty, chwaraeodd 319 gêm a sgorio 14 gôl. Williams oedd y canolbwynt i amddiffyn Yr Elyrch, a thorrodd ei record ffi i’w arwyddo. Roedd Williams wedi cael tymor campus yn y Bencampwriaeth, a oedd wedi dilyn at ef yn ennill Chwaraewr Cymreig y flwyddyn yng ngwobrau Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru. Parhaodd ei berfformiadau’r ddau dymor canlynol, gan ond ildio 37 gôl yn ystod tymor

Capten ffantastig. Ashley Williams yn sgorio yn erbyn Arsenal i’r Elyrch. Tarddiad: MekyCM (drwy Flickr)

2009/10 fel rhan o amddiffyn Abertawe, Dilynodd hyn at enwebiad ac ennill le yn nhîm y flwyddyn y Bencampwriaeth. Yn nhymor olaf Yr Elyrch yn y Bencampwriaeth, roedd Williams wedi ennill le yn nhîm y flwyddyn y Bencampwriaeth am yr ail flwyddyn yn olynol. Yn ogystal, roedd wedi chwarae 106 gêm olynol i’r Elyrch, gan dorri record Andy Legg a Gilbert Beech. Roedd Yr Elyrch wedi treulio pum blwyddyn gyda Williams fel ei chapten yn Uwch Gynghrair Lloegr. Sgoriodd Williams ei gôl gyntaf yn Uwch Gynghrair Lloegr pam gollwyd Yr Elyrch 4-1 i Chelsea. Er i bynditiaid rhagfynegi bydd Yr Elyrch yn cael tymor gwarthus yn yr Uwch Gynghrair, ac i ddarostyngu, capteiniodd Williams y tîm y 11eg yn y gynghrair. Blwyddyn wedyn, daw camp enfawr i Williams wrth iddo gapteinio Yr Elyrch yw ei phrif dlws cyntaf yn 2013, wrth iddynt guro Bradford 5-0 yn rownd derfynol Cwpan y Gynghrair. Cododd y tlws gyda Garry Monk, prif-gapten y clwb oedd wedi dod ymlaen fel eilydd yn yr ail hanner. Wedi i Monk ymddeol a chymryd rôl hyfforddwr Yr Elyrch, rhoddwyd yr awenau i Williams fel prif gapten y clwb. Yn ei dair blwyddyn olaf gyda’r clwb, capteiniodd Yr Elyrch yng Nghynghrair Ewropa ac i safle uchaf y tîm yn eu hanes. Roedd ei adawiad wedi gadael twll yn amddiffyn Abertawe, twll profodd anodd ei lenwi. Roedd perfformiadau campus Williams wedi ennill symudiad i Everton, gyda’r Toffis yn talu £12 miliwn am ei wasanaeth. Nid oedd ei gyfnod gyda Everton mor llwyddiannus â beth yr oedd yn disgwyl. Roedd ei berfformiadau dim cystal â’i berfformiadau i’r Elyrch. Chwaraeodd 60 gêm i’r clwb dros gyfnod o dair blwyddyn, gan chwarae yng Nghynghrair Ewropa yn y cyfnod hynny. Yn dilyn cyfnod lle nad

oedd yn chwarae gemau, aeth Williams ar fenthyg i Stoke City yn y Bencampwriaeth ar gyfer tymor 2018-19. Roedd yn chwarae’n gyson i dîm dan arweiniant Gary Rowett, ac yna Nathan Jones. Chwaraeodd 37 o gemau dros y tymor, gan sgorio unwaith yn erbyn Norwich. Ar ddiwedd y tymor cafodd ei rhyddhau gan Everton, ac yn dod a chyfnod o 8 blwyddyn yn chwarae yn Uwch Gynghrair Lloegr i ddiwedd. Wedi’i rhyddhau, roedd Williams yn chwilio am glwb newydd, a darganfod cartref newydd ym Mryste. Arwyddodd i Ddinas Bryste yn Awst 2019 ar delerau cyfnod byr, oedd am ddod i ben ym mis Ionawr. Sgoriodd unwaith yn y cyfnod hyd at fis Ionawr, ac roedd ei berfformiadau wedi ennill cytundeb hyd at ddiwedd y tymor iddo, lle sgoriodd gôl arall i’r Robiniaid. Chwaraeodd 32 o gemau yn y tymor, cyn gadael ar ddiwedd y tymor. Efallai’r atgofion mwyaf melys o Ashley Williams, oedd ei berfformiadau yng nghrys coch Cymru. Capteiniodd Cymru am y tro cyntaf mis Tachwedd 2009 wrth guro Yr Alban 3-0. Daeth Williams yn gapten parhaol Cymru o dan Chris Coleman yn 2012. Heb amau, atgofion gorau unrhyw gefnogwr Cymru oedd Haf 2016, wrth i Gymru cyrraedd rownd gynderfynol EWRO 2016. Roedd wedi capteinio Cymru yn ei twrnament rhyngwladol cyntaf ers 1958, ac nid oedd wedi siomi. Cafodd Williams twrnament gwych, a pwy gall anghofio ei beniad yn erbyn Gwlad Belg yn y rownd gogynderfynol. Er i Gymru colli yn y rownd gynderfynol yn erbyn Portiwgal, Williams oedd y capten cyntaf i arwain Cymru i rownd gynderfynol yn ei hanes. Chwaraeodd ei gêm olaf yn erbyn Hwngari yn 2019, ac felly yn diweddu gyrfa yn y crys coch gyda 86 cap. Capten ac arwr, bydd hanes Williams yn cael ei gofio am fyth

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YOUR Andrew RT at helm of Welsh Conservatives RT Davies is the leader of the Welsh Conservative after the resignation of Paul Davies POLITICS DESK R Morgan Perry Politics Editor

Hallum Cowell

Tom Kingsbury

T Davies previously led the Welsh Conservatives from 2011 before resigning in 2018 after tensions surrounding the Brexit referendum result. Paul Davies later took over the group’s leadership. The change in leadership comes after Paul Davies – and three other Senedd members – reportedly breached the Welsh Government’s COVID-19 restrictions in December 2020. Just a day before his resignation, the Welsh Conservatives had given their unanimous support for Davies and his leadership. He then stood down on January 23, stating that his actions “damaged the trust and respect that I have built up over 14 years in the Welsh Parliament”. RT Davies described his re-selection as the group’s leadership as a “great honour and privilege”, as well as announcing a shadow cabinet reshuffle. Former shadow education minister and Chief Whip, Darren Millar was also caught up in the COVID-19 restrictions breach; he resigned his post shortly after Davies stood down and does not feature in the latest shadow cabinet. With him back at the helm, the Welsh Conservatives “will put forward a positive plan to get Wales moving again” said RT Davies. Providing the election isn’t delayed, the Senedd election is due to take place on May 6.

The Senedd: Andrew R.T. Davies has returned to his posistion as leader of the Welsh Conservatives following a controversy that removed former party leader Paul Davies. Source: Adrian Platt (via. Geograph) RT Davies says his leadership will “unleash our country’s potential”. In 2016, when RT Davies was leader at the time of the last Welsh Assembly election, the Welsh Conservatives lost three seats. News that several Senedd members had met at the Senedd in breach of COVID restrictions came to light on January 19. Three members from the Welsh Conservatives – Davies, Millar and MS for Monmouth, Nick Ramsay – were reportedly involved.

Dewi Morris

Morgan Perry politics@gairrhydd.com

Paul Davies: Andrew R.T. Davies has replaced Paul Davies as Leader of the Conservative Party in Wales after Davies allegedly broke COVID-19 restrictions in the Senedd. Source: Paul Davies, AM (via Wikimedia Commons)

Labour MS for Blaenau Gwent, Alun Davies was also allegedly present. He was later suspended from the Labour Senedd group. At the time, Welsh Labour said: “A member has been suspended from the privileges of Senedd Labour group membership while an investigation takes place into this alleged incident.” Unlike Alun Davies, members from the Welsh Conservatives were not suspended. All four of the members deny breaking any Welsh Government restrictions, however the group was reported to have consumed alcohol in the Senedd tearoom on December 8. This was four days after a ban on the sale of alcohol on licenced venues came into place, as part of the Welsh Government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. Nick Ramsay denied any breach of the coronavirus regulations. His solicitor said: “[Mr Ramsay] sat on his own and was socially distanced. “Others came in whilst he was there, but it was not a ‘gathering’ Mr Ramsay was part of ”. After resigning from his frontbench role, Darren Millar accused the media of “wildly inaccurate and unfair” reporting of the incident. “While I am advised that I did not breach coronavirus regulations I am very sorry for my actions, especially

given the impact of the tough restrictions that people and businesses are enduring,” he said. After an investigation, the Senedd authorities have referred a “possible breach” of COVID-19 restrictions to Cardiff Council – who oversee licenced premises in the city – and its own watchdog. It’s been a messy couple of weeks for the Welsh Conservatives. Shortly before the alleged breach of coronavirus restrictions was unearthed, members expressed their disappointment that MS for South Wales West Suzie Davies had not been re-selected for the regional list. Rather she would be standing in the constituency seat of Bridgend; a seat currently held by former Welsh Labour leader and First Minister Carwyn Jones, with a majority of more than 5,000. Though Jones does not intend to stand at the 2021 Senedd election, it’s not certain that Davies would be elected in his place. She would, however, have likely been guaranteed a seat had she been placed on the regional seat. Political Editor for ITV Wales, Adrian Masters, has since tweeted that the Welsh Conservatives are seeking someone to fill a place in Bridgend, indicating that Suzie Davies has chosen to step aside. Following the insurrection at the US Capitol, now-leader RT Davies also came under fire after equating those storming the Capitol to those seeking a second referendum over Brexit. Replying to a tweet from Labour leader Keir Starmer, RT Davies said: “To be honest I’m not sure you’re in the strongest position right now given you campaigned to overturn democracy and the will of the British people.” The response attracted criticism from both sides of the aisle and led deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner to write to the chairwoman of the Conservative Party, Amanda Milling. RT Davies’ tweets are unlikely to have won around more liberal members of the Welsh Conservatives. Whether he can help bring the party together, at a time when a number of prospective members have expressed the desire to abolish the Senedd altogether, is yet to be seen. Either way, he has just five months before the election, and the returning leader is unlikely to want to see a repeat of the party’s last electoral performance.

Welsh Steel companies facing down post-Brexit tariffs Hallum Cowell Head of Politics

teel companies in the UK are bracing for additional tariffs on goods following the UK’s departure from the EU. Tata Steel which employs 8,000 people; most of which work in Wales and nearly half in Port Talbot would be heavily affected by new tariffs. UK Steel, which is a group which represents the steel industry in the UK, has said that it is “likely” that there will be export tariffs on Steel from the UK and that they could face a tariff of 25%. Tata Steel has already faced difficulty, facing a loss of £654 million in the year before COIVD-19 restric-

tions began. Labour MP Stephen Kinnock, whose Aberavon constituency includes Port Talbot steelworks said that; “Boris Johnson has said that the Brexit deal is no quotas and no tariffs - that is just not true” adding that “The steel industry is going to be subjected to 25% tariffs on every tonne of steel that we export to the European Union above a certain quota” and that, “What’s even worse is steel going from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will be included in the calculation of that quota, so we really have got a very troubling situation that could have a very damaging impact on our steel industry.” Kinnock has urged the UK government to continue to negotiate with the EU and to provide support

to the steel industry. Steel analysist Kathryn Ringwald Wildman told the BBC that the government would need to decide whether steel remained a “strategic industry” and that due to the pandemic other sectors that are in crisis, including hospitality and leisure to name a few, may get the funds that otherwise would go to subsidised steel. In response to the looming crisis a government spokesperson said, “we have worked successfully with the European Commission to secure tariff rate quotas for some steel products to enable UK companies to trade tariff-free into the EU” and that, “the government will continue to engage intensively with the sector to understand their concerns and requirements.”

Tata Steel: Nearly half of Tata Steel’s employes work in Port Talbot, new tafiffs on exporting their steel could prove fatal for a company already in turmoil. Source: Corus / Tata steel Velsen IJmuiden (via. Wikimedia Commons)

GWLEIDYDDIAETH

Tensions flare over EU vaccine rollout

Tensions over the EU’s rollout of the coronavirus vaccine hit boiling point Morgan Perry Politics Editor

ensions over the EU’s rollout of the coronavirus vaccine hit boiling point last week after the European Commission enacted part of the Northern Ireland Protocol as a means of preventing the export of jabs from the bloc. The debacle stemmed from a disagreement between EU leaders and the UK-Swedish drugs manufacturer AstraZeneca, who manufacture the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine. A disagreement between the pair arose when it was discovered that the UK was continuing to receive stock of the vaccine produced within the UK. Meanwhile, the EU was suffering a shortfall, and called foul on the move. Despite having signed an agreement for 300 million COVID-19 jabs, AstraZeneca told the EU that supply problems at some of its European manufacturing plants meant that operations would be cut to 60% of capacity, a deal that the EU said wasn’t fair. In a bid to hoard its precious supply of coronavirus vaccine doses, the EU has made two moves: introducing export controls on vaccines from the bloc and enacting the little-known Article 16, which forms part of the Northern Ireland Protocol. The pair met for lengthy discussions, which AstraZeneca later walked away from, after European leaders argued the firm had failed to meet the contract they had signed. In response, the EU suggested that some of their supply come from the UK, something the UK Government was not happy with, and moved quickly to defend. The new European export controls will apply to those looking to move vaccines out of the bloc of 27

European Union: Since the UK’s departure from the EU there has been friction between the two unions. Source: OpenClipart-Vectors (via. Pixabay)

member states. In the event that manufacturers appear to not to be meeting their contractual obligations to supply the jabs, member states can block the export of the vaccines. There are exceptions, however, with Switzerland, Norway and Northern Africa still receiving EUproduced inoculations. The international Covavax programme – which sees vaccines delivered to countries in the global south – are also exempt. The EU has continued to reiterate that the move is not a permanent ban, but a temporary control measure whilst supplies are delivered to member states. In a bid to further mid to stem the exodus of jabs from inside the

EU, the Commission also enacted – and later withdrew – Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol. The protocol forms part of the UK and EU’s post-Brexit trading agreements, specifically in regard to the Ireland-Northern Ireland border. The protocol allows goods to move from one to the other without checks or physical checkpoints. Article 16 permits the agreement to be suspended by one side, or the other – in essence allowing checks and physical border inspections – but only in times of “economic, societal or environmental difficulties”. Given the precarious situation the EU finds itself in regarding vaccines, EU leaders took the decision

UK Applies to Join Asia-Pacific Trading Block Monique Dyer Contributor

he UK has just announced their intention to apply to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), one of the world’s largest Free trade areas. Membership would mean closer economic ties with many of the UK’s key strategic allies. The announcement regarding the UK’s application to join the CPTPP comes almost exactly one year after the UK’s official departure from the European Union. The UK’s International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss, spoke to officials in Japan and New Zealand on Monday, February 1 to formally make the request. Negotiations on the specifics of the membership are expected to begin later this year. The CPTPP is an attractive trade bloc, comprising 11 Asian and Pacific nations including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Japan. It also contains many rapidly growing middle economies such as Mexico, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore. It evolved from the Trans-Pacific

Partnership, which was a similar agreement that never entered force due to the withdrawal of the United States at the behest of former President Donald Trump. The 11 remaining signatories decided to proceed with a newly revised trade agreement and created the CPTPP as a result. The agreement came into force in December 2018, and the UK is the first non-founding nation to apply to join. If granted access, the UK would be the CPTPP’s second-largest economy after Japan and before Canada and Australia. In 2019 alone the bloc accounted for around £111 billion worth of the UK’s trade. Free trade would see a significant increase in trade between these markets and allow UK businesses to export and import goods tariff free. This deal is particularly attractive to the UK, as unlike EU membership joining the CPTPP does not force the country to relinquish control over its laws, borders, and customs. The deal however is not likely to see any huge immediate impacts. Out of the 11 nations which are party to the CPTPP, the UK already has trade agreements with 7 of them - and is pursuing two more.

In addition, only a small fraction of the UK’s exports - around 10%- go to CPTPP countries, significantly less than what goes to the EU. Some sectors in the UK are worried about the impact of the CPTPP including regulations on food standards and agricultural products. However, the UK government has assured that they will protect their own industries and that the deal will be beneficial to all. Prime Minister Boris Johnson claimed that joining the CPTPP demonstrates the UK’s “ambition to do business on the best terms with [their] friends and partners all over the world and be an enthusiastic champion of global free trade.” The response to the UK’s announcement to join the CPTPP has been largely positive. Japan, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have all expressed that they welcome the UK’s Application. If the UK does join the CPTPP, the bloc will be only one of the many free trade deals the UK has negotiated since leaving the EU. Others include individual trade agreements with Japan, Canada, and Mexico and prospective trade deals with the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.

to ensure that vaccines could not be exported to the UK by way of a backdoor through Northern Ireland. Arlene Foster, the Northern Ireland First Minister described the move as “an incredibly hostile act”. The decision has since been reversed, in what the Irish Commissioner to the EU, Mairead McGuinness, said was a “mistake with very serious consequences”. EU leaders are feeling the strain over the rollout of the COVID vaccine on the continent. Whilst the UK has delivered the first of two coronavirus jabs to more than seven million people nationwide, the EU is lagging behind. By January 29, according to Our World In Data, 3 vaccines had been delivered per 100 people in Germany, versus the UK’s 14. Israel is currently leading the way worldwide; 54 jabs have been issued per 100 people. The EU is facing anti-vaccine backlash, too. France is notably vaccine-sceptic, with French president Emmanuel Macron having suggested the vaccine “doesn’t work as expected” in those over the age of 65. Just over 1 million people in France had received at least one dose by January 26. Whilst the Article 16 incident is likely to have only encouraged mistrust in EU leadership, the likes of European Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen will now be under pressure to ensure the swift and effective rollout of the vaccine across the bloc. On Monday morning (February 1), von der Leyen announced that there had been a “step forward” between politicians and the drugs manufacturers, with AstraZeneca agreeing to supply a further nine million doses to the EU. This deal, however, still only sees a supply of less than half the expected doses.

What would membership of the CPTPP mean? . The elimination or reduction of around 95% of import charges . Faster and cheaper visas for business people . A reciprocal exchange of data and information regarding State-Owned Enterprises . The protection of commercial source codes and encryption . Strengthened crossborder intellectual property protection

Labour calls for more to be done to remove cladding Katherine Seymour Contributor

ollowing the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, there has been a push to make high-rise buildings safe after it was found that the cladding used on the tower was to blame for the spread of the fire. This issue has become contentious between parties as a solution has still not been completely implemented in the last three and a half years. Labour believes that the government’s lack of funding and austerity policies are to blame whilst the government has placed much more emphasis on the role of the local Labour council. Labour is calling for more financial support for leaseholders. Sir Keir Starmer has argued that the building safety bill is not enough with it providing just over 10% of the estimated costs to make buildings safe at £1.6bn when the cost is estimated to be closer to £15bn. On Monday, the Febuary 1, Labour used opposition day to touch on the issue with their motion passing by 263 votes to none. However, the result is not binding on the government and Conservative MPs were told to abstain. Labour and some Conservative backbenchers have said that leaseholders did not know that their flats were unsafe when they bought them but now have to face the costs with many facing bills of tens of thousands of pounds. Only 58% of social housing blocks have completed the cladding removal work and only 30% of private sector buildings. Labour says that millions of people still live in potentially unsafe buildings and this should not be the case particularly with the massive costs which residents are already facing. On Tuesday, February 2, the government announced that they would give extra funding to the issue with Housing Minister Chris Pincher saying that the government will announce a financial solution “very shortly”. At least 35 Conservative MPs have signed an amendment to prevent the cost falling on homeowners. However, Pincher has encouraged them to withdraw this to allow the bill to get through smoothly so that they can put in the extra funding. This is a massive shift in position from Monday as a spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “The Building Safety Bill is the appropriate legislative mechanism for addressing these issues and will be brought forward in due course”. Furthermore, a government advisor suggested that building owners could take-out long-term loans and recoup costs from residents which would put further pressure on those living in unsafe buildings. The government has not yet confirmed what the further funding will be and therefore it will be a waiting game to see how far they will cover the costs estimated. Though the Labour motion passed, the government does not have to act. The hints, however, are pointing towards some level of extra funding for the Building Safety Bill which many tower block owners have already taken support from. It is clear to both sides that the £1.6bn provided, though massive in terms of cost, is not enough when around £15bn is required to make buildings safe and the rest of the cost is destined to fall on residents.

12 POLITICS In other news Arrest of poisoned Putin critic sparks protests in Russia Tom Kingsbury Politics Editor

A In Myanmar the military have staged a coup, detaining the elected civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. The military declared a year-long state of emergency, taking back power after having previously run a military dictatorship over the country. The actions have been met with condemnation from international organisations and world leaders, though China blocked the UN Security Council from condemning the coup.

Republicans in the United States are divided over their party’s future direction. They are at a crossroads where they must decide whether to remain loyal to Trump or return to traditional republicanism. Republicans debated stripping Representative Liz Cheney of her leadership position (the third highest of the House Republicans) last Wednesday, over her vote to impeach Trump. On the opposing edge of her party, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene may be punished for her support of QAnon conspiracy theories and threats she made towards Democrats. House Democrats may strip Greene of her committee assignments if Republicans don’t take action.

lexei Navalny was arrested upon his return to Russia, five months after being poisoned with Novichok nerve agent. Navalny, a strong critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, alleges he was poisoned by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). Although the Kremlin denies the allegation, investigative journalists have found evidence to support Navalny’s claims. He made the trip from Germany, where he had been recovering in hospital, on January 17. His detainment has sparked protests across the country. The plane Navalny was to return on was diverted at short notice from Vnukova airport, where thousands had gathered in anticipation of Navalny’s return. It instead landed in Sheremetyevo airport, where police led Navalny away at passport control. Footage shows Navalny kissing his wife before the police officers detained him. The police refused to allow his lawyer to come with him. Back at Vnukovo, riot police were deployed, and a number of activists were reportedly arrested. Navalny was given a makeshift hearing at a police station before being put away. Russia’s prison service said Navalny “had been wanted since December 29 2020 for repeated violations of the probation period”. The probation related to a suspend-

The trial of suspected warlord Gibril Ealoghima for war crimes furing the Liberian civil war has begun in Finland. Ealoghima is accused of being a senior member of a rebel group between 1999 and 2003, in which time he allegedly killed civilians and soldiers who had been disarmed as well as rape and the recruitment of child soliders.

though the Russian interior ministry put the number at just 4,000. Throughout the week, people with links to Navalny were arrested, including his brother, spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh, lawyer Lyubov Sobol and his doctor Anastasia Vasiliyava, who played the piano in defiance as police raided her flat. In an appeal against the thirty-day detention he was handed, Navalny described his detention as “blatantly illegal”. His appeal was rejected. He said his treatment was a result of “those who want to shut me up – to scare me and everyone else.” “You want to show you’re the bosses of this country. But you’re not. You have the power now, but that’s not eternal.” A fresh wave of protests began on January 31, with many Russians taking to the streets for the first time as the movement gathered momentum. The protesters demand the release of Navalny, with many also calling for Putin to step down. Over three thousand people have been detained, almost equaling the 4,000 detained the previous week. There have been reports of a lack of jail space for Navalny’s supporters. Navalny’s wife Yulia was among those detained by police. Metro stations and the city center of Moscow were closed off by police. A number of clips show Russian police storming into crowds and taking protesters away. The US said it “strongly condemns” the “harsh tactics” used against journalists and protesters by Russian police, and called for “the immediate

and unconditional release of Aleksey Navalny.” UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab tweeted: “The UK condemns the Russian authorities’ use of violence against peaceful protesters and journalists.” Shadow Foreign Secretary, Lisa Nandy, pressed Raab in parliament on the concrete action he has taken against Russia, saying: “he can tweet all he likes, but those words will be met with nothing but derision in Moscow” In particular Nandy suggested Raab had implemented none of the recommendations of the Intelligence and Security Committee’s Russia report. Raab said the UK had taken action, pointing to the EU-led sanctions on six Russian officials. The events in Russia come soon after the inauguration of US President Joe Biden. The US has been criticised in the past for being soft on Russia, both under President Trump and Obama before him. Many are eager to see if President Biden will deliver on his commitment to be tough on Russia. Biden has now had his first Presidential call with President Putin. The White House said they discussed election interference, as well as the ongoing protests. A Kremlin statement called the meeting “businesslike and frank”. The US responded to the detainment of Mr Navalny, by stating: “President Biden made clear that the United States will act firmly in defense of its national interests in response to actions by Russia that harm us or our allies.”

Hong Kong residents given special UK visas Dewi Morris

Politics Editor

S The Italian President has asked Mario Draghi, former head of the European Central Bank, to form a new government following the collapse of the previous government a week ago. Draghi said that Italy was facing a “difficult moment” and that he was “confident that in talks with Parliamentry and other groups,we will find unity and the ability to find a responsible solution.” Currently the main source of contention within Italain politics is how to spend the €222bn (£195bn) EU Covid recovery fund. Italy has so far seen nearly 90,000 of its’ people die from COVID-19

ed sentence handed to Navalny for embezzlement, a charge he claims was politically motivated to silence him. Police said he was supposed to report to them regularly, though Navalny’s lawyer said it was “absurd”, saying they knew he was in Berlin, recovering from being poisoned. In December 2020, investigative journalists uncovered three agents they said worked for Russia’s FSB, had been trailing him for years and had been at Tomsk at the time he was poisoned. Later, Navalny himself convinced one agent he was a Russian official on the phone, and managed to uncover details of the operation, including that the poison was placed in the seam of Navalny’s underpants. The day after his arrest, hundreds of people turned up outside Khimki police station, where Navalny was being held, in protest. Among them was his councilor Antonia Stetsenko, who staged a solo picket outside the gates. The solo picket has become a way for Russian activists to circumvent laws against unauthorized gathering, with just one individual picketing at a time. More than 70 people, including Navalny supporters as well as journalists, were reportedly detained. In the coming days, nationwide protests began. In Khabarovsk, police were seen breaking up a demonstration of around 1,000 people. Footage shows police attacking protesters in the city of Vladivostok. Around a hundred cities and towns saw demonstrations take place, with a reported 40,000 protesters in Moscow,

ince January 31, Hong Kong residents with British National Overseas (BNO) status are able to apply for a special UK visa. Holders of the visa can work, study, and live in the UK, apply for UK settlement after five years and for UK citizenship a year later. The scheme is seen as the UK’s reaction to China’s crackdown on the excolony. China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, confirmed that China would not recognise the BNO status as a travel document, as he claims the UK’s scheme aims to “turn a large number of Hong Kong people into second-class British citizens.” He warns: “This move seriously infringes on China’s sovereignty, grossly interferes in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs, and seriously violates international law and the basic norms of international relations.” While China refuses to recognise the BNO passport, this is but a symbolic retaliation as Hong Kong residents only need BNO status rather than an actual passport to apply for the visa. Residents use a Hong Kong passport to enter or leave the region. Boris Johnson has said: “I am immensely proud that we have brought in this new route for Hong Kong BNOs to live, work and make their home in our country. “In doing so we have honoured our profound ties of history and friendship with the people of Hong Kong, and we have stood up for freedom and autonomy - values both the UK and Hong Kong hold dear.”

In 2019 Hong Kong was shaken by months of mass pro-democracy protests which began in response to China’s extradition law, meaning residents would be sent to China to face trials. Despite the law being dropped fierce protests continued against Chinese interference in the semi-autonomous region. When Hong Kong was handed back to China, ending British rule, part of the agreement was that capitalism would remain in the region until 2047, under the ‘one country two systems’ rule. Last summer, China introduced a new security law in Hong Kong which makes criticism of China a crime. Undermining the authority of the central government is seen as subversion and is therefore punishable by a maximum of life imprisonment. Critically, the law states that Beijing will hold power as to how it is interpreted rather than a judicial body in Hong Kong. The UK responded by suspending its extradition treaty with Hong Kong, meaning Hong Kong cannot ask the UK to return an individual suspected of a crime there. Similarly, the US ended preferential economic treatment in the region in an act Donald Trump said aims to “hold China accountable for its oppressive actions” and to hold responsible those “involved in extinguishing Hong Kong’s freedom.” The new special visa is a response to what Britain sees as China breaking its promise to allow autonomy in the region as part of the agreement known as the Joint Declaration. Priti Patel, the UK’s Home Secretary, said that the scheme is “one of its kind… it’s a bespoke visa route to provide freedoms, safety, security.” Residents of Hong Kong can ap-

Protests contine in Hong Kong: The situation in Hong Kong continues to decline as the divide between pro-Democracy and pro-China groups deppen. Source: Studio Incendo (via. Flickr)

ply for the visa over a new app after fears they may be targeted by Chinese authorities if they travel to a visa application centre. The visa is open to anyone with a BNO status registered before

July 1997 (when Hong Kong was handed back to China) and includes partners, children, and dependent relatives. 5.2 million people are therefore eligible. However, the UK expects 300,000 people to migrate.

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COMMENT

YOUR Single in a lockdown: Fired for pushing COMMENT this is what I’ve learnt over a snowman DESK A L Molly Govus

Comment Editor

Molly Govus

Sian Hopkins

Cerys Ann Jones

Izzy Morgan comment@gairrhydd.com

fter coming out of a longterm relationship in late January 2020, I was thrown head-first into the pandemic as a relatively new, confused and rather lost single woman. I have now spent just over a year getting used to my proudly acclaimed singleness. If being single after a long time in a relationship isn’t hard enough to adjust to, I have now had to navigate through the strange world of dating apps and making connections throughout the wrath of COVID-19, which makes meeting new people, well…pretty impossible. Only a year ago, I was asking my tinder-expert friends about what left and right swiping meant, but now, it is safe to say that my swiping fingers have never had as much exercise before. Now, I find dating apps a bit of fun. A swipe here, a swipe there, a short five-minute conversation about what you’ve been up to and it abruptly ending because you are, in fact, up to nothing – you get the drift. It’s all a bit of a laugh, until it’s not, and you realise this may be the way you have to meet people for a long time to come. When you think about it like that, the thought can be quite daunting and sadly, quite lonely. Truthfully, I’ve used this time to better myself, and to get to know who I am in a relationship. After years of dedicating my existence to another person rather unhealthily, once I put the Bridget-Jones-style sobbing aside, I felt ready to learn more about myself and my needs. We must remember that we are

Source: Geralt (via. Pixabay)

all still so young – times are changing, people are meeting later in life, and I’d like to think that pressure surrounding relationships is lessening as time goes on and people become more independent. Ultimately, I realised that the only person that was putting pressure on me to rush into another relationship was me – recognising this train of thought and this feeling automatically made me feel more in control, and I felt pretty powerful after I realised this. Something rather strange about all this, and there’s not much, but the ongoing, never-ending lockdown can be a brilliant conversation to have with a person online. Some may say that the topic and shared experience of going through all this, within our particular generation, can actually bring us closer together. You can ask about how someone’s coping, about how it’s affecting their work or university, or about whether they’re isolating at home or elsewhere. You get to see someone’s resilience and their hopes for the future, something that may not have come to light in usual circumstances. This may be a bit of a stretch, but at least, it’s a nice and positive way to think about things. I find myself asking the same questions in my head: what are my boundaries? What do I expect of my partner? What can I give to them? All of these questions and clarities have come clear to me because of the way I have used this time: to better myself, and to get to know myself. The last thing any of us need is to put ourselves down about our relationship status. There are no clubs to stumble into people, there are no parties to meet someone’s eye – these are different times. Take control and do what you can with what you can. Who is the single Molly Govus? It’s a big question. An initially daunting one, but one I now find exciting to answer. She’s stronger, she knows what she wants, and she doesn’t succumb to self-inflicted pressure. If I have learnt anything during COVID-19, it’s that I can look back and say I gave myself time to learn who I am as a single woman, in 2020/21, in the middle of a pandemic. And truly, I think that’s rather inspiring.

Francesca Ionescu Contributor

ast Tuesday, in Hereford, a 19-year-old bin-man kicked a snowman while waiting for the bin to be emptied into the truck. This seems like it would be a local story that would not make it past Hereford’ news; however, it has sparked a very fiery debate as to what should have been prioritized -a child’s feelings or a teenager’s job. Callum Woodhouse, an agency worker for the Herefordshire local council, was seen on CCTV kicking the snowman -built allegedly by a 3-year-old. The toddler’s parents complained to the council, who decided to let Mr. Woodhouse he will not be called back to the job. The story then made national news, with many publications insisting that the 19-year-old did not apologize and has no remorse. On the other hand, a petition has started for the council to give him his job back. The petition has currently got 11,500 signatures, and growing, with a user pointing out ‘2 months ago we were clapping people like him’, only emphasizing the unfairness of firing an essential worker over what could have been a “slap on the wrist”. While on side people are angry at Woodhouse for destroying ‘someone’s property’ it seems the general public consensus is to question why a young essential worker was fired

Source: Edgars Košovojs (via. WikimediaCommons)

during a national lockdown. This entire situation started a discussion about priorities and especially about classism. Underneath the petition a lot of people are pointing out the ridiculousness of making someone redundant over destroying something that would have melted the next day anyway. The toddler would also not remember this incident for long, and to affect a young adult’s income while he is also expecting a child seems like an over exaggeration. Woodhouse has made a statement to LBC saying he feels ‘in the dark’ as he was working to support his son. It also reveals a lot of classist views especially in journalism, where the main focus seems to be Woodhouse’s occupation, and using language that villainizes him such as calling him a ‘snowman killer’ and saying he decapitated the object. As well, a lot of publications conveniently miss out on Woodhouse’s age and that he is in fact a teenager, while mentioning the child’s age, as a way to emotionally engage their audience while not putting the story in perspective. The story is not fully one sided; Woodhouse’s actions were still wrong, but not deserving of such a harsh punishment. While the child’s feelings do matter and the parents are in some way justifiably angry, to cause someone to lose their job during a pandemic where they are an essential worker is an overreaction. The parents have faced backlash on social media, with people criticizing how their reaction will only affect their child negatively, as well as pointing out the hypocrisy of protecting their child while getting a soon to be father in trouble. While the backlash the parents have faced has been expected, the extent to which it has gone has definitely also been an overreaction. The entire incident could have just been a discussion, however once it reached news sources and social media both sides started being under scrutiny. Overall, the conversation should have focused a lot more on the way we treat workers we depend on, rather than picking a side in what is, in the end , an argument that should have never been blown out of proportion as much as it has- but while it has we should look at the deeper things it shows.

‘Be Kind’: is this justification for influencers travelling during lockdown? Cerys Ann Jones Comment Editor

nfluential figures have become subject to scrutiny consequent to their highly documented presence at luxurious destinations abroad despite increasing Coronavirus infection rates across Britain. Government guidance states that those who reside in tier four areas could only travel internationally or within the UK if they are legally permitted under the guidelines provided. Influencers have therefore deemed their content created abroad to be “essential” work, despite being able to produce posts of the same standard from home. Social media influencers are fully equipped and able to create con-

tent remotely and from any location, therefore the necessity of their presence at international locations have been questioned on an ethical and moral basis. Despite travelling for work purposes being deemed necessary under the government guidelines, citizens are encouraged to remain local to reduce further transmission of the virus on an international scale. The general travel advice provided by the government website, Gov.uk, states; “We continue to advise against all non-essential international travel to some countries and territories”. British fitness influencer and blogger, Sheridan Mordew, appeared on ITV’s This Morning following the online backlash she received encompassing her migration to Dubai dur-

ing the Coronavirus pandemic. Despite regarding her presence abroad as an “essential work trip” necessary for her “mental health”, the daytime television hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby asserted that travelling regulations have remained clear throughout the pandemic, and have no relation to mental wellbeing. Broadcasting live beside a swimming pool, Sheridan initially stated: “The reason I came out to Dubai was purely for business, I’m a personal trainer - a lot of gyms have closed, so basically I took my online business over to Dubai, and now I do things in my apartment”, to which Phillip interjected through stating that if it is possible to record the fitness content within the constraints of an apartment, then travelling to Dubai was

an unnecessary decision and a poor justification. The fitness influencer replied by claiming that the travel was necessary for her mental health, and subsequently, the mental health of her followers. Sheridan received a plethora of scrutiny and backlash following the broadcast of this segment consequent to viewers taking offence to the influencer utilising the ‘be kind’ movement as a scapegoat for her poor lapse of judgement. Holly Willoughby argued: “When you say ‘be kind’… When we see how stretched the NHS is and the nurses working really, really hard and all they are saying is: ‘Please stay home, do the right thing and stay home’”.

Social media influencers are predominantly utilised by corporations as a marketing tool to influence the consumption and behavioural patterns of the large audiences that they acquire. Such influencers are established role models, and therefore, their decision to leave the UK displays irresponsible behaviour to their often-impressionable followers. The pervasive presence of content created internationally subsequently influences the younger demographic to believe that their manipulation of the legislative rules provided by the government to ensure the safety of its citizens is acceptable. Influencers should therefore be held to account by the government and receive stern consequences for their manipulation of travelling regulations.

SYLWADAU Did Zoella deserve to be axed from the GCSE curriculum?

After promoting sex-toys on her social media platform, Zoella found herself shamed for educating others Megan Evans Advice Editor

t was announced just short of a week ago, that Zoella, a.k.a Zoe Sugg, the young teenage and adults YouTube personality had been dropped from the exam board for Media Studies, after her adult content within her website, containing an guide about the ‘Best Sex Toys to Spice Up Your Life in 2021’ got flagged as too inappropriate. Zoe had been featured on a media studies course through the examination board AQA which asks pupils to study her channel, Twitter and Instagram accounts, as well as her well known website, which started off her fame. AQA made a statement that said her ‘recent content is aimed specifically at an adult audience, and not suitable for GCSE students’. Zoe has bashed a lot of the uproar that had risen through various media outlets slating her decision to upload this content, and used her Instagram platform that has 9 million followers to discuss her annoyance. She stated that she didn’t even know that her website was part of the GCSE syllabus. “[Zoella is] a passionate team of women writing about things that women are interested in, and we’ve worked hard to include more women’s health, conversational articles and basically just more grown-up content as our main demographic is 25- to- 35-year-old females. NOT 16-year-olds.” She also openly admitted that teenagers should be encouraged to learn about sex and masturabation. ‘I actually disagree that teens shouldn’t be learning about this stuff. Maybe not in their bloody [exam curriculum] but how else are teenage girls going to find out moreabout being a woman?” Jack Edwards, a 22 year old graduate of English Literature from Durham University, who also engages online with a large social following via YouTube, Instagram and Twitter had a lot to say about this topic to his fans. He stated ‘not Zoella’s BOOK being dropped by schools because her BLOG spoke about self-pleasure?’, which preceding to listing a host of Literature novels that cover themes of murder and suicide, and

sex such as Of Mice and Men, The Great Gatsby and Othello. He also states: “The overall Zoella brand is being banned from GCSE Media Studies, but the point stands: why do institutions like @AQA feel the need to make examples of women enjoying sex / pleasure? Makes me think of the Zara Holland Love Island scandal. Why are women being punished?” This isn’t the first time that Zoella has posted content about sex openly on her page. In September 2020, she posted an article titled ‘Let’s Talk About Female Pleasure: A Beginner’s Guide to Masturbation’, which wasn’t flagged up within this new sudden disdain towards Zoe’s content online. There are also more articles that deal with issues within women such as periods and fertility, which were not mentioned when this scandal came to light. Long ago were the days of Zoella and her brand promoting bath bombs and shower gels, as Zoe has turned 30 years old last year, and has ditched her Zoella YouTube channel, to her vlog channel, sharing a much more laid back approach to life, instead of the glitz and glam. The articles posing Zoe as an inappropriate figure for her demographic, is quite frankly ridiculous. This conversation is not openly spoken about, and it is quite outdated to think that teenagers haven’t explored this issue. There is a large discomfort for women to not speak about issues such as this, because it has not ever been addressed clearly. Instead of Zoe Sugg being praised for pushing the advocacy for female stimulation into the spotlight, it is being bashed down; does this seem right? For as long as I can remember, boys were openly discussing topics along these lines with so much openness, whereas girls were very shy to approach this topic with some form of certainty, because the school textbooks very fully engrossed with teaching us algebra, simultaneous equations and how to write a speech, instead of telling us what growing up is really all about. There are gaping holes within the education system directing us towards what sex education actu-

Advice Editor

think now, more than ever, is the time where students learn about real-life content. Whilst, of course, the topic of sex toys may not be relevant to the media GCSE this is not, and never has been, all that Zoe has advocated and raised awareness for. One piece of content should not justify as grounds for axing a remarkable and inspirational woman from the curriculum. From a young age, the age of the students taking the media GCSE, Zoe created a welcoming and supportive environment for her fan base. Yes, Zoe has gotten older and her target demographic has naturally changed, but this doesn’t exclude all of the previous life lessons she has taught younger generations. Open discussion about

sex and masturbation is what we need within our society – we are all adapting, growing, changing. It is exactly these types of conversations that keep girls safe and educated about themselves as sexual beings. It is not disgusting or threatening to be educated – it is empowering. We have spent far too long being quiet about a natural process. Instead of young girls having to sift between endless online forums searching for answers for questions about their own bodies, why not allow them to be educated by a strong, educated and caring woman such as Zoe? The discussion needs to be opened and there is so much more work to be done. I applaud Zoe and think what has happened silences the needs of many women – we are allowed to talk, and we will not be silenced.

Captain Sir Tom Moore: the legacy left behind Izzy Morgan Comment Editor

F A much-needed discussion: Female masturbation is nothing to be ashamed of. Source: Pittstone (via. WikimediaCommons) ally constitutes, as I had to search a lot of issues on the internet. I did not feel the comfort of my peers also learning about this in the same form, because it is solely independent as soon as you leave those classroom doors. We hardly know what is deemed as ‘acceptable’, as now we are in the realms of the 21st century, it should be largely justifiable to speak openly about female pleasure, particularly within the uncertain times of the pandemic, making physical contact with others extremely difficult. The complaints that have been made by parents of pupils show even within a society that is progressing, we still have a lot of work at hand. Teenagers should be taught everything they need to know within a safe and informed environment, as whilst it may seem ‘uncomfortable’, the argument of not being ‘age appropriate’ is completely irrelevant. We should ensure our future generations that they are being taught the right things, and not having to shy away from the discomfort of it. It is fortunate that there is some efforts to maintain this teaching, as the Department of Education are requiring all secondary schools to teach Relationships and Sex Education. This will mean these important discussions are taking place more often in schools, but this stigma seems to stay pretty high. The encouragement made by

various empowering females across social media platforms to embrace their womanhood is astonishing and really inspiring, yet we don’t even know how to do this properly through our own body? Self-love and masturbation still seems to portray a little too much shame and discomfort, instead of the gratifying light it should be in. AQA have recently released a statement saying that “Effective relationships and sex education in schools is vitally important and we completely support it. All we’re saying is that we don’t think studying adult-focused lifestyle websites in GCSE Media Studies is the best way to do it’. Is this the best way to do it? Publicly scrutinizing a figure who millions have looked up to for guidance, by shaming her for posting online content for a ranging demographic of women? Barnado’s even conducted a survey back in 2016 that surveyed 1,000 young people, who said that children would be safer if they had sex and relationship education. To think that even back in 2016 we knew that this needed to be implemented more strongly into the curriculum, yet we are still removing that ability to accept that this is the reality. We are in a changing world, and it is about time that approached these topics with a much morecommitted attitude.

“We have spent too long being quiet” “It is nothing to be ashamed of ” Molly Govus

Sophia-Grace Contributor

feel that it is incredibly important to be open about our sexuality, especially for those in a position like Zoe Sugg. For a lot of people, Zoella has been a role model and an older sister figure so her comfortability in addressing sexuality is promising and important. Zoella’s audience is still made up of those who engaged with her content when they were younger and when she first started with her channel so they have grown up alongside her as their role model and therefore her content has aged. The decision to remove her from the AQA syllabus is counterproductive as it sends the message to young adults that we shouldn’t be comfortable in expressing ourselves

or our sexuality. Female pleasure is nothing to be ashamed of. In high school, I don’t think that females are given the same level of sex education as males; we are taught about periods and how we get pregnant, whereas young men are taught about masturbation and the normality of it. Sexual pleasure for women certainly wasn’t explained whilst I was in school and role models like Zoe Sugg shouldn’t feel ashamed for talking about these seemingly ‘taboo’ subjects as there are young women who are afraid to explore their bodies through fear. Personally, I believe that Zoe Sugg is doing an incredible job at advocating for young women and encouraging them to feel comfortable in their skin, further educating young adults much more than sex education in high schools does.

ollowing the death of Captain Sir Tom Moore due to COVID-19, thousands across the country paid tribute to his life and legacy following his heroic contributions to the war effort as well as his efforts during the pandemic. His nationwide fame came as a result of him aiming to raise £1000 for the NHS by walking 25m loops in his garden before his 100th birthday. His story and his aim went viral online which ultimately led to Captain Sir Tom raising over £32 million. The outpouring of national support and celebration of his life story led to huge amounts of media attention which meant that on his birthday, the BBC hosted a special coverage for his 100th with an RAF flypast to honour him on his special day. He was also knighted by the Queen in June. Many would say his story brought to people a reminder of why protecting the NHS was so important during the pandemic and now, as a result of his death, the message is even clearer. There was a minute silence held before the Coronavirus briefing from the government as well as a national clap for Captain Sir Tom following his passing and he was recognised as a hero by celebrities and other public figures alike. Captain Sir Tom’s impact cannot and should not be understated with the money he raised going to help various NHS charities who might not have been getting the funding they desperately needed during the pandemic. The story captured the nation’s hearts as we saw a man who stepped up for his country at two of its darkest periods and brought hope and happiness in a time where uncertainty and fear was spreading. The pandemic has put a massive unforeseeable stress on the nation and in particular, the NHS, so whilst the captain’s efforts had real monetary benefit it also worked to spread awareness of the struggle the NHS was facing. It also showed what we can do as a nation to work together and help protect it and those who work tirelessly on the frontlines of this virus everyday. On New Years Eve, Captain Sir Toms’ likeness was created in the drone and firework show to highlight some of the better moments from 2020 along with images of social justice such as the Black Lives Matter movement. Captain Sir Toms’ passing is a sad moment for the country but it is a comfort to know he will be remembered for his outstanding contributions during the war and his work with charities to aid the country during the struggle of modern times which is the Coronavirus pandemic. His passing is also a grim reminder of the real life impacts this pandemic is having on our older generation and is a reminder to all why the lockdown measures are in place as stories such as the death of Captain Sir Tom are happening in tens of thousands of families across Britain. His family, as well as government members, and thousands of others around Britain joined to clap for him on Wednesday.

ADVICE

YOUR How to take more breaks from technology What can you do to reduce your screen time whilst still keeping up with your work? ADVICE DESK W Vicky Witts

Head of Advice

Vicky Witts

Megan Evans advice@gairrhydd.com

Celebrating Valentine’s Day in lockdown Megan Evans Advice Editor

alentine’s Day is just around the corner, and we are seeing this celebratory event, for the first time, look a lot different to how it usually would. There are still plenty of little ways to make this special day, something to look forward to, even if that is via a phone call or a FaceTime, or a socially distanced walk. Dinner date via FaceTime If you cannot see your significant other in person for a proper sit down meal, why not arrange to FaceTime with a meal? You could make this more fun by getting your partner to choose what you make, and then rating the meals. If you want to go extra fancy, do a starter, main and a dessert. Send a surprise care package in the post You don’t even need to assemble this yourself. Etsy is such a brilliant application, that supports local businesses and you can add notes to customise it in the best way for your partner to enjoy. It doesn’t even need to go to a romantic partner - if you are single, you can always send one to a close friend. Who wouldn’t love to receive this in the post? Socially distanced walk (if this is possible) If you are able to see a partner if they are close-by, why not arrange a nice walk outside? Not only is that a way of getting out of the house to relieve tense and anxious feelings, but you can have a meaningful conversation in the heart of the outdoors.

ith new technology constantly coming out each year with the aim to apparently make our lives easier and keep us entertained, our devices such as laptops and smartphones seem to be in constant use. Whether it is staying in contact with our friends or reading research papers for our degree courses, technology can give us greater access than ever to a wide range of things that benefit us. However, with many of the things that you may need or want being available online, it may be important to learn how to take breaks from our screens so that we don’t become too obsessed and start to ignore the things around us. Replacing one obsession with another To say that many people, including students, have become addicted to their phones and technology may seem to be extreme and an exaggeration. However, many of us cannot help but look when we get a notification or get distracted browsing social media instead of doing the work that we are meant to be doing. It is not just that we are choosing to procrastinate by using technology, but also that many people are starting to rely on it, particu-

larly throughout the coronavirus pandemic, where we are having to do much of our shopping and social interacting online due to many of the restrictions that are in place. Perhaps it is therefore almost inevitable that we are becoming reliant and almost addicted to our technology. However, whilst it may be almost impossible to stop using our devices for some aspects of our lives, there are ways to overcome the addicting feeling that many of us experience when we see that we have a new notification or are scrolling through online shopping websites. For example, it may be a good change whenever you are experiencing boredom, to choose to participate in a new hobby instead of picking up your phone or going on a walk if you feel that you are going to start getting distracted on your computer. Finding a new obsession, like going running, or taking up a craft, can help you spend less time on your devices. It may be more beneficial to you in the long term than simply commenting on your friend’s social media posts. Try transferring online activities offline A good way to move your learning away from your technology temporarily and without using a large amount of paper is by working on things like flash cards for

your key information. You can even purchase a whiteboard, which may be particularly useful for notes that you only need temporarily like to learn diagrams, or for memorising information in revision-style sessions. Additionally, where you may be sent a lot of reading each week from one specific text or book, it may be helpful to purchase a new or used physical copy. This will stop you from having

to read from a screen, as well as give you the opportunity to make notes and underline information in a way that may be more accessible than in a online format. Take a break for a day Taking a day to completely stop using your phone or computer can be a good way to reset and give your body time to relax if you feel that you spend all day sat in uncomfortable positions at your desk.

Technology Addiction: We may be spending too much time at screens. Source: StartupStockPhotos (via: Pixabay)

Apps to help your motivation and wellbeing Megan Evans Advice Editor

study showed that 29% of people in the UK felt social media impacted their mental wellbeing in a negative way. Being in national lockdown for a large proportion of 2020, and this continuation within 2021 has made using social media as a way to stay connected during the crisis. People now spend an average of almost 2 and a half hours per day on social media platforms, and added together, this is now 10 billion hours per day using social media across the UK. As humans, it is important for us to be able to communicate, even if it is via a phone screen. However, spending an excessive amount of time on social media can exhibit more feelings of sadness, frustration and loneliness, and it is time to reexamine online habits to find a balance that is healthier. As much as spending too much time on your mobile devices is seen as quite negative for your mental health, especially amongst young people, there are many applications that have been made that can be utilised in such a positive way, to allow for less login time on social platforms. This is also vitally important for students to continue studying in a proactive way, and to make sure mental well-being is attained to the degree that it possibly can. Headspace is a mediation and mindfulness application that the

Social media consequences: A study showed that 29% of people in the UK felt social media negatively impacted their mental wellbeing. Source: (via pxhere)

likes of Emma Watson are a fan of. This app teaches you how to live mindfully, and gives you lots of tips and tricks on stress management, happiness, resilience and physical health. It also has sleeping techniques and music, as well as workouts. A lot of the techniques that are on this app can help deal with stress and anxiety, which is a common feeling amongst students at the moment, with the uncertainty of what will happen in the future for them. Forest is another useful app for me to have as a way to focus on anything that I need to get done. If you feel you are getting distracted by social media, and you need something to physically stop you from using it, Forest is an app that enables you to grow a physical tree, as long as you don’t use your phone. You can collect virtual coins that en-

able you to spend via its partner organisation ‘Trees for the Future’ to plant a real tree. It is a great app for people needing a more visual approach to stimulate productivity and crafts rewarding benefits. Evernote is a popular notes organiser application, that is great for taking notes and organising ideas into one place. It can capture writing, but also photos, audio, digital sketches, PDFs and much more, and is perfect if you need to access things immediately and wherever you are. You can also search for particular words or phrases within your text, and it will flag it up. That means that if you are writing essays, and need a quick method to find words, it is super easy. If you are struggling to stay active and fit during the winter months, Strava is the perfect app for this. Not only can you track

your routes, but you can follow budding friends and followers, and show your progress. It doesn’t matter if you are new to the scene, or continuing to run, this is perfect for you to challenge yourself and push yourself. Calm is also amazing, if you are having problems with sleeping, or trouble relaxing. It approaches stress in such a brilliant way, via meditation and giving you a whole host of audio programmes, stretching exercises and breathing programmes, from mindfulness and wellbeing experts. It is also currently ranked as the number one application for Sleep, Mediation and Relaxation on Apple. You can choose from music to help you relax or sleep, and audio books. Reflectly is also an app that I would highly recommend. Journaling has become such an important way to write down thoughts and feelings, and this app does exactly this. It is named as the World’s First Intelligent Journal, which claims it will enable its users to deal with negative thoughts and more positivity. It allows you to track your thoughts by answering questions, and saving them as stories. Thrive is also a free application that uses games to track your mood and teach methods that allow you to control stress and anxiety. It offers a range of support in one app, from relaxation techniques such as mediation to thought training and sleep improvement. Not only is it NHS approved, but it provides help when you need it, at the simple swipe of your phone.

Got questions about Academic We Issues? visited Student Advice cardiffstudents.com/advice

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

YOUR Compound benzoxazole shown to slow bone SCIENCE ageing by 31% in large-scale mice study DESK T Holly Giles

Head of Science & Technology

Holly Giles

Rowenna Hoskin

Mili Jayadeep

Jack Robert Stacey science@gairrhydd.com

he UK has an ageing population where there are nearly 12 million people aged 65 or over in the UK, a number which is increasing every year. Across the world people are living longer and the number of centenarians (people reaching 100) has increased by 8% in the past 15 years. By 2030 it is estimated there will be over 21,000 centenarians. This increased life expectancy means we are exposed to many conditions that were not previously encountered as our bodies simply didn’t last that long. As explained by AgeUK the increase in life expectancy has risen more quickly than healthy life expectancy meaning the number of years spent with chronic and complex health conditions is increasing. This has led to researchers trying to try and slow down the ageing process so quality of life can improve and people can age well. A key step has been taken in the world of ageing research this year through work at the Buck Institute. They have performed a longitudinal and functional study of 700 mice in order to track how the mice age. They regularly monitored clinically significant ageing changes including blood glucose, body composition, activity levels, metabolic markers and skeletal ageing in bone to see how the mice aged and how this could be improved in the future. During this process they were able to test several potential therapeutics and see if they extended the lifespan or reduced neurological disease, giving mice a higher quality of life. A focus for the researchers was bone. Through ageing bone mass decreases meaning bones are weaker and people are at an increased risk of fracture. This is caused by a number of processes including a reduction in physical activity, hormonal changes and metabolic changes leading to a loss of calcium in bone. This is a big problem for healthcare with the incidence of fractures increasing with age and around 255,000 admissions to A&E for fractures in people aged over 65. These often lead to rehabilitation problems and disability. As a means to counteract this the researchers looked at potential therapeutics. Of particular note was the effect of Benzoxazole. This com-

Pill for healthy bones: Bones are a key site of ageing with increasing risk of fractures as people age. This new compound has the potential to slow bone ageing. Source: ledwell / Getty Images (via VeryWellHealth) pound had been previously shown to extend the lifespan of nematodes in 2011. Based on this study, researchers decided to test it in the lab mice. They found it slowed bone ageing by up to 31% over the course of a year’s treatment. The effect of the compound on bone was particularly surprising as nematodes are boneless creatures, suggesting the molecule has additional benefits not previously recognised. Reflecting on this, Buck professor, Gordon Lithgow, said: “If you have a therapeutic that extends lifespan in a simple animal that has no bone whatsoever, you certainly wouldn’t predict that it would slow the rate of bone aging in a mammal. It’s obvious that aging-related pathways have been conserved during evolution. This new finding is a great example of the utility of screening compounds in simple animals as the starting point to look for unexpected and surprising benefits in mammals.” This findings is also relevant to human health, as explains senior author of the paper, Simon Melov: “The metrics we used are all directly applicable to aging in humans. They

literally have direct clinical correlates to the types of things you would measure in humans.” The exact mechanism behind the reduced bone ageing is not currently known but is a site of current research and one that can be expected to see human applications in the near future. As well as the findings of Benzoxazole, the results of this study are expected to change the field for years to come. It has created a labyrinth of data for other researchers to use. Many experiments are preceded by pre-clinical studies to find the ideal number of animals needed and the time period required; these steps can now be skipped by researchers using this database as their pre-clinical trial. On this, Melov said: “We think using this new database could save substantial resources for those wanting to do preclinical studies on interventions. If someone wants to test a compound against a particular aging phenotype this database could provide information about how many mice are needed for the experiments and how long it would likely take to see results”. A key principle of animal testing

is the 3Rs meaning the number of animals used is minimal, they are only used when needed and the potential for suffering is reduced wherever possible. These principles govern ethical approval on animal studies so the being able to reduce the number of animals needed as a result of this database is a huge step forward for the sector and can be expected to increase the rate of research in the future. The database from the Buck Institute will be used by researchers for years to come, where it is hoped that the results of Benzoxazole can be realised. It provides a new potential therapy which both increases our understanding of bone ageing and may give us another weapon to fight it. If you have a therapeutic that extends lifespan in a simple animal that has no bone whatsoever, you certainly wouldn’t predict that it would slow the rate of bone aging in a mammal” Gordon Lithgow

Buck Professor

Oral contraceptives to be used on grey squirrels throughout UK Holly Giles

Head of Science & Technology

hroughout lockdown people have fallen in love with walking and exploring their local area, with a UK survey showing 61% of women and 50% of men have been walking more often than before the pandemic. On these trips into local woodlands and parks it is common to see grey squirrels, and occasionally red squirrels, but few know their complicated history with our country. Grey squirrels were introduced to the UK from North America in the 19th century. These were often brought back as pets and then released into the wild when they were no longer wanted. The number of squirrels being

released allowed them to establish a wild population meaning they could breed and increase in number in the countryside. Their population continued to increase from area of release and by the 1960s, according to one report, it was easier to say where grey squirrels were not found on a map than where they were. Contrastingly the red squirrel is native to the UK but has been decreasing in number since the introduction of the grey squirrel. There is debate about if this is through direct competition or if the species were declining anyway, but there are now an estimated 66 grey squirrels for every red squirrel in the UK. The success of the grey squirrel is thought to be because they are more successful in competing for food and because they have larger litters, mean-

ing they can increase more rapidly. Grey squirrels eat green acorns which means acorns are not left for the red squirrels to be able to eat when ripe. Additionally grey squirrels are carriers of squirrel pox virus which, although it does not harm the grey squirrel, can lead to a serious infection in red squirrels, decreasing their numbers further. The dominance of grey squirrels is now out of control with the red squirrel being classed as Near Threatened in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. There are projects of red squirrel conservation that aim to deter grey squirrels and encourage red squirrels to reproduce. As well as decreasing grey squirrel numbers for the red squirrel’s benefit, it is also important to reduce their number as a result of the damage they inflict to the countryside.

In light of this, the UK government has given its support to a project to use oral contraceptives to control grey squirrel populations. The support stems from Environmental Minister Lord Goldsmith saying the damage the squirrels and other invasive species cause to UK’s woodlands costs the UK £1.8 billion each year. Goldsmith explains the damage from squirrels also threatens the effectiveness of effort to tackle climate change by planting trees. The question for many hearing this news is the practicalities of how this will be implemented. This is suggested to be done through feeding boxes for squirrels containing hazelnut spread containing an oral contraceptive. The work is part of a 5 year project by the UK Squirrel Accord (UKSA).

UKSA explained: “The Animal Plant Health Agency (APHA) is currently trialling three different methods of reducing fertility and creating an effective product that can be taken orally.” In order to ensure the safety of red squirrels from the medication the team are using a hopper feeding box that is species specific. They added: “Tests on a hopper to deliver the oral contraceptive to grey squirrels only are going well. The test bait, without contraceptives, is attractive to grey squirrels and the hopper currently prevents almost all but the very largest red squirrels from accessing it”. So whilst it may sound like stuff of fancy, spiking hazelnut spread with oral contraceptives is both a reality and a necessity for the protection of our woodlands and our native red squirrels.

GWYDDONIAETH A THECHNOLEG

Doctors warn how hypertension can be mistaken for menopause in women Alex Brown Contributor

eart disease is the number one killer of women in the UK; 77 women die from a heart attack each day, and more than 3.5 million women are living in the UK with heart disease. However, despite this, many women are unaware that they are at risk of cardiovascular problems. A European Society of Cardiology (ESC) consensus document published in European Heart Journal details preventative measures middle-aged women can take to decrease their risk of heart problems in later life. Pregnancy complications and early menopause are both factors that can increase a women’s risk of heart disease, however high blood pressure in women is often mistakenly labelled ‘stress’ or ‘menopausal symptoms’, while in men it is correctly identified as ‘hypertension’. Up to 50% of women develop high blood pressure before the age of 60 but the indications, including hot flushes and palpitations, are often dismissed as menopause symptoms. Professor Angela Maas, Director of the Women’s Cardiac Health Programme at Radboud University Medical Centre and first author of the paper states: “Physicians should intensify the detection of hypertension in middleaged women. We know that blood pressure is treated less well in women compared to men, putting them at risk for atrial fibrillation, heart failure and stroke -- which could have been avoided.” There are multiple clues throughout

a woman’s life excluding high cholesterol, that is indicative of increasing the likelihood of developing high blood pressure. Women need to be assessed differently to men, in order to evaluate their risk level for cardiovascular disease. Pre-eclampsia, a disorder in pregnancy is linked to a four times higher chance of heart failure and hypertension, and a two times greater risk of stroke. Women who experience natural early menopause, are also more likely to develop cardiovascular disease- and this risk increases by 3% each year. Autoimmune inflammatory conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, are more common in women than men and are also associated with increased cardiovascular risk during menopause. Professor Maas reports: “There are several phases of life when we can identify subgroups of high-risk women. High blood pressure during pregnancy is a warning sign that hypertension may develop when a woman enters menopause, and it is associated with dementia many decades later. If blood pressure is not addressed when women are in their 40s or 50s, they will have problems in their 70s when hypertension is more difficult to treat.” The document, which collates knowledge from cardiologists, gynaecologists and endocrinologists, provides recommendations for middleaged women on how to prevent later heart problems. It provides guidance on heart health throughout menopause, during complications that may follow pregnancy and management with conditions such as breast cancer and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

Science Editor

cientists at Cardiff University claim to have found the ‘missing link’ in the process that leads to an ice age forming on Earth; the team’s findings have been published in Nature. The ice age process has been shrouded in mystery, the mechanics of how small variations in solar energy can trigger such dramatic shifts in the Earth’s climate. Scientists say that the key to the mystery is melting icebergs in the Antarctic: the liquefaction of icebergs triggers a series of chain reactions that plunge Earth into a long period of cold temperatures. Scientists have known for a long time that ice ages are affected by periodic changes in the orbit of Earth around the sun, which in turn alters the amount of solar radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface. In their study, the team proposed that given the specific conditions of Earth’s orbit, Antarctic icebergs melt further and further away from Antarctica, causing a shift of high volumes

of freshwater away from the Southern Ocean and into the Atlantic Ocean. This shift of freshwater means that the Southern Ocean gets saltier and the North Atlantic gets fresher; thus the overall ocean circulation patterns begin to dramatically change. In this way CO2 is extracted from the atmosphere and the greenhouse effect is subsequently reduced. As the planet no longer has the added gas to trap the sun’s solar energy, the planet does not heat up; instead, Earth is pushed into ice age conditions. In their study, scientists used multiple techniques to reconstruct past climate conditions, which included identifying minuscule fragments of Antarctic rock dropped in the open ocean by melting icebergs. These fragments, known as Ice-Rafted Debris, were obtained from sediments recovered by the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 361. They represent over 1.6 million years of history and one of the longest detailed archives of Antarctic icebergs. Ice-Rafted Debris appeared to consistently lead to changes in ocean circulation, reconstructed from the chemistry of deep-sea fossils called fo-

Novel biomaterial to reproduce bone remodeling processes Mili Jayadeep

Science Editor

B Doctor’s warning: The increased blood pressure is commonly misdiagnosed in women as menopausal symptoms. Source: unknown (via Saga) The article recognises the importance of a healthy lifestyle and diet in optimal management. For example, in women experiencing menopause or PCOS who previously had elevated risks of high blood pressure during pregnancy or who additionally have type 2 diabetes. While menopausal hormone therapy is administered to alleviate symptoms including night sweats and hot flushes, the document recommends assessment of cardiovascular risk factors prior to prescription. Hormone therapy is not recommended to those who are at a high cardiovascular risk, or who have experienced a stroke, heart attack or blood clot. Additionally, the article provides guidance for transgender women who are persons assigned male at birth. Professor Maas explains: “These women need hormone ther-

apy for the rest of their lives and the risk of blood clots increases over time. [Transgender women] should always be encouraged to reduce modifiable lifestyle risks. [Additionally] the psychosocial benefits of hormone therapy with an improved body image may result in healthier lifestyle choices.” Collaboration between cardiologists, gynaecologists, and endocrinologists, like in this document, is essential so the best care can be provided to female patients. Women can help themselves and their doctors to make early diagnosis by mentioning issues, such as pregnancy complications and early menopause, and even by monitoring their own blood pressure. Improving education and awareness around this issue can help catch heart problems early and provide better prognoses for patients.

Ice Age cycle ‘missing link’ found at Cardiff University Rowenna Hoskin

raminifera. In addition to these fragments, the team used a new climate model simulation to run their hypothesis, discovering that huge volumes of freshwater could be moved by the icebergs. The lead author of the study Aidan Starr, from Cardiff University’s School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, said: “We were astonished to find that this lead-lag relationship was present during the onset of every ice age for the last 1.6 million years.” “Such a leading role for the Southern Ocean and Antarctica in global climate has been speculated but seeing it so clearly in geological evidence was very exciting.” Professor Ian Hall, the study’s coauthor and the co-chief scientist of the IODP Expedition, also from the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, said: “Our results provide the missing link into how Antarctica and the Southern Ocean responded to the natural rhythms of the climate system associated with our orbit around the sun.” Over the course of the last 3 million years, the planet has regularly been plunged into ice age conditions, but

currently, it is situated within an interglacial period where the temperatures are warm. Unfortunately, the increase in anthropogenic CO2 emissions have directly caused an increase in temperature which research suggests has disrupted the natural ice age cycle. The SOuthern Ocean is predicted to become too warm for Antarctic icebergs to travel far enough to trigger the necessary ocean circulation that is required for an ice age to develop. Professor Hall believes that the results can be used to further our knowledge in how our climate will respond to anthropogenic climate change in the future. “Likewise as we observe an increase in the mass loss from the Antarctic continent and iceberg activity in the Southern Ocean, resulting from warming associated with current human greenhouse-gas emissions, our study emphasises the importance of understanding iceberg trajectories and melt patterns in developing the most robust predictions of their future impact on ocean circulation and climate,” he said. The Cardiff University-led study was funded by NERC

Word of the week: Ice-Rafted Debris • Sediment of any grain size that has been transported by floating ice and then released into the sea • It is usually course and gravelly sediment • It’s presence indicates that icebergs have occurred within a specific time frame

ones of the skeleton contribute to the mechanical functioning of the body and facilitate everyday activities due to its ability to undertake loading owing to its structural properties. Cells within the bone have functions that result in the production and the maintenance of healthy bone. These cells all have differing properties to maintain an optimum homeostasis of bone production and resorption. However, when this balance is disrupted due to pathology, such as osteoporosis, it can result in low bone mass and low bone mineral density causing weak and brittle bones. The structural changes resulting from osteoporosis affect the mechanical properties of the bone resulting in an increased risk of fracture. In the UK, over 500,000 people suffer a fragility fracture due to osteoporosis each year. Current research treatments are limited to preventing the progression of the condition hence research in this area is crucial. A team of researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS). This research published in the journal Science Advances could contribute to the development of therapeutics in osteoporosis. They developed a tissue engineered model that mimics the remodeling processes that are present within healthy bone tissue. This model is a trabecular bone organoid model created to reside on osteoporotic bone. Researcher, Jungwoo Lee explains: “Bone is a multifunctional tissue not only maintaining mechanical stability, but also regulating blood-forming and blood mineral content. However, investigating bone-remodeling biology is challenging because this process occurs inside the bone cavity. Hard and opaque bone tissue is difficult to access, thus creating realistic bone tissue models outside of the body will advance our understanding of fundamental bone biology, as well as provide new opportunities to model disease progression and screening drug responses.” The team used bovine bone samples and demineralized it. Using thin sections of this bone, they were able to create a biomaterial that is closest in resemblance to the complex structural matrix of bone tissue. This material is durable, semi-transparent, enabling easy monitoring of cell processes on the model that is also of a specific thickness and surface area. The purpose of this model was to replicate the collagen matrix in unmineralized bone. This model helps to facilitate the study of bone by creating a very specific environment upon which bony cells can reside. Due to the intrinsic complexities of the environment within bone tissue, it is often challenging to study the cells that make up bone. Therefore, the provision of such a model can help study the processes within these cells, what occurs during bone remodeling and how this can be applied to develop drug targets for bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Although the scientists have created a novel biomaterial that greatly contributes to current research into bone biology, further research is needed on human bone models to translate their work to be able to apply this to the human condition. The successful development of their research could have positive implications for developing drugs for osteoporosis as it could help reduce the screening period required for developing these therapeutics.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

New embryonic fossils shown Tyran-

nosaurs were “born ready to hunt” Mia Becker-Hansen Contributor

yrannosaurs, also known as ‘Tyrannosauroideas’ were the terrifying group of dinosaurs that were the apex predators in Asia and North America during the Cretaceous Period, the last of the dinosaur periods, 146 to 66 million years ago. They were a superfamily of theropod dinosaurs, characterised by their carnivorous diet, hollow bones, and three-toed limbs. The most famous species of which being the notorious Tyrannosaurus Rex, made famous in the Jurassic Park film series. Recently uncovered embryonic remains found in Canada’s Alberta province have shed light to palaeontologists on the early stages of this ferocious family. Tyrannosaur egg remains have never been found before this point, existing fossils only being of adult or older juvenile tyrannosauruses. Producing 3D scans of the fragments reveal that the babies were born huge, fully toothed and clawed, ‘born ready’ to kill. The 75-million-year-old remains consist of a 3cm-long jawbone that may have belonged to a species called Daspletosaurus, and a claw that is believed to have come from an Albertosaurus. Both species were slightly smaller cousins of the Tyrannosaurus-Rex, which could grow up to 12 meters long and weigh around seven tonnes. The findings suggest the Tyrannosaurus had the largest-sized young currently known, being around the size of a small dog when hatched. The enormous egg exceeds the 43cm length of the previously largest dinosaur egg. University of Edinburgh’s School of GeoSciences palaeontologist, Greg Funston, who led the study, said the scientists were amazed at the similarity of the embryonic bones to that of the adult and older juvenile tyrannosaurs from immediate birth. Funston said, “We now know that they would have been the largest hatchlings to ever emerge from eggs and they would have looked remarkably like their parents.”. The jaws even show already functional teeth, possessing distinctive tyrannosaur traits including a deep grove inside (known as the Mackelian groove) as well as a prominent chin. Funston added that the babies would have been “born ready to hunt, already possessing some of the key adaptations that gave tyrannosaurs their powerful bites. So, it’s likely that they were capable of hunting fairly quickly after birth”. Whilst the findings suggest they were born with these abilities, more fossils are needed for it to be known how fast after birth this was. It is hoped understanding will increase with more fossil finds. This discovery could aid efforts to recognise these eggs in the future in order to gain greater insight into the nesting habits and very early life of tyrannosaurs, as despite this family being one of the most researched, so little is known about the earliest stages of tyrannosaurid development.

U.S. Navy trials Welsh waste compaction technology from Thermal Compaction Group Jack Robert Stacey Technology Editor

hermal Compaction Group’s prototype is currently housed in a Navy Research Laboratory in Maryland and, following extensive testing by researchers, the U.S. Navy is in negotiations to license the unique design for general manufacturing. Assisted by numerous other technology companies across the UK, the firm intends to reshape the way modern organisations (like the U.S. Navy) process the single-use plastics they utilise in day-to-day operations. With an active fleet of over 280 ships and submarines worldwide, the U.S. Navy consumes approximately 14 million gallons of fuel a day and, as such, has previously faced criticism for failing to improve the environmental impact of its international fleet. Although this branch of the U.S. Military has experimented with other sustainable technologies in the past (including trialing an algae-based biofuel), these measures proved to be too expensive for widespread, practical use – The Navy’s recent acquisition of the ‘Massmelt’ system, however, could change this. The Cardiff-based Thermal Compaction Group (abbreviated as ‘TCG’) was founded back in 2014 and specialises in manufacturing a variety of state-of-the-art waste recycling systems which, the firm attests, offers sustainable and “cost effective solutions to waste management problems globally”. Although TCG found early success with the ‘Sterimelt’ system (currently used by St. Woolos Hospital in Newport), the company has continued to develop similarly accessible methods capable of processing large amounts We feel our technologies will greatly assist not only the US Navy, but also hospitals, universities and many businesses, who will all inevitably have growing waste problems if things continue in a linear route fashion”. Thomas Davison-Sebry Director of Operations at Thermal Compaction Group

Navy tackles waste: The U.S. Navy has expressed their interest in adopting a ‘ground-breaking’ recycling device made by the Welsh-based tech company, Thermal Compaction Group. Credit: Thermal Compaction Group of single-use plastics. Phillip Davison-Sebry, the Chief Executive Officer at TCG, noted that the ‘Massmelt’ system is so successful at reducing the “CO2 emissions given off by transport” because it can be operated effectively on diverse range of scales, from “5,000 people on an aircraft carrier, or just a lorry going back and forth”. Although “it taken quite a long time to perfect” the ‘Massmelt’ system, Davison-Sebry confirmed, the team at Thermal Compaction Group are committed to developing its “systems more and more, going forward” and intend to work at refining their systems for a number of additional, environmentally friendly uses. Thermal Compaction Group’s ‘Massmelt’ prototype uses a process involving compaction and heat in order to alter the size of compactable waste, potentially reducing the volume of different types of compactable waste by up to 75%. In addition to also reducing the moisture content by around 25%, the system then compresses this shredded waste into easily transportable cy-

lindrical ‘logs’ that can be later cut to specification for a variety of environmentally sustainable uses. As part of the patented ‘Massmelt’ recycling process, these ‘logs’ are thermally sealed with plastic extracted from within the waste itself which, critically, strengthens them and allows them to maintain their shape during transportation. Whilst considerably reducing the transportation costs in disposing of the waste, the ‘logs’ can alternatively be purposed for other applications, such as fencing posts, furniture, or as easily installable flood defenses. In January last year, Thermal Compaction Group was recognized by the South Wales Chamber of Commerce at the Welsh Business Awards, receiving a trophy in the Success Through Innovation category. In response to an increasing demand for its technology, the firm has announced plans to significantly increase the size of its team of researchers and engineers over the next few years, citing a desire to connect with UK Universities in order to explore additional uses for

the ‘logs’. Thomas Davison-Sebry, the Director of Operations at TCG, considered that, during the current outbreak of COVID-19 in the UK, “we feel our technologies will greatly assist not only the US Navy, but also hospitals, universities and many businesses, who will all inevitably have growing waste problems if things continue in a linear route fashion”. Continuing in regard to the development of Thermal Compaction Group’s various systems, DavisonSebry noted that “nothing like this can come about without a lot of people involved” and, as such, the company remains “heavily focused” on better educating people “on the importance of recycling and trying to reduce our carbon footprint”. With the environment becoming an ever-pressing issue in our modern lives, this Cardiff-based company aims to challenge the way we perceive waste and, through their range of waste recycling systems, reduce the ecological impact of services (like the U.S. Navy) on a worldwide scale.

Debates continue as US panel discusses implimenting AI technology in military weapons Rowenna Hoskin

Science Editor

US panel called the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, led by the former Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt concluded that the US should refuse to agree to ban the use or development of autonomous weapons powered by artificial intelligence (AI) software, a government-appointed panel has said in a draft report for Congress. The panel discussed technological advancement and AI for national security purposes for two days. It’s vice-chairman, Robert Work, a former deputy secretary of defence said that autonomous weapons are expected to make less mistakes than

a human in battle - meaning casualties will be reduced as target misidentification will no longer be subject to human error. “It is a moral imperative to at least pursue this hypothesis,” Work said. Amongst the controversial discussion, anxieties concerning human rights around warfare were raised. A coalition of non-governmental organisations have called for a treaty banning “killer robots” for eight years, saying that human control is necessary to judge an attack’s proportionality and assign blame for war crimes. Thirty countries, including Brazil and Pakistan want this ban implemented and it has been a subject of the United Nations meetings since 2014.

Concern has increased over recent years as research has found AI bias and examples of it’s software abuse. The panel acknowledged the risks of autonomous weapons. A member from Microsoft warned that the pressure to build machines that react quickly could escalate conflicts rather than minimise. The panel agreed that nuclear warhead launches should only be decided by humans. Mary Wareham, coordinator of Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, said the commission’s “focus on the need to compete with similar investments made by China and Russia … only serves to encourage arms races.” These recommendations are not binding and the commission is not

due to release its final report to Congress until March. Whatever decision the US congress makes, it is clear that AI will continue to increase within our technocratic society. The public will have to remain patient to see whether AI breaches the boundaries of the military domain and into the sphere of dystopian fiction. [The Comission’s] focus on the need to compete with similar investments made by China and Russia … only serves to encourage arms races.” Mary Warham Co-ordinator of Campaign to Stop Killer Robots

Student Wins â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Christmas 2020 looked a bit different with lots of students unable to travel home. To support students, we sent out hundreds of little pick me up boxes to help students stay positive!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Your Sabbatical Officer Team 20/21

@CAERDYDD

Cardiff: The Historic Welsh Capital uncovered YOUR @CAERDYDD Cardiff ’s storied history and what you can still find today in the city DESK A Tirion Davies

Editor in Chief

Natalie Graham

Fflur Trevor caerdydd@gairrhydd.com

Cardiff Castle’s

Animal Wall, an

enduring landmark Hallum Cowell Deputy Editor

hen walking past Cardiff Castle one of the most curious features is the 15 stone animals perched upon the wall in front of the river. This artistic stonemasonry’s official name is The Animal Wall; eluding most likely to the animals, on the wall. The statues include standard images of Medieval iconography including Lions, bears and wolves but also hyenas, baboons, anteaters, and pelicans. These zoological stone works were designed by William Burges but not completed until 1890, after this death. Burges designed the hyena, wolf, baboons, seal, bear, lioness, and the lynx. Later on, in 1931 Alexander Carrick added the pelican, anteater, racoons, leopard, beaver and vulture. These animals later appeared in a 1930s comic strip by Dorothy Howard Rowlands which appeared in the South Wales Echo newspaper. The comic has the stone animals involved in adventures around the city and included the two lions as Romulus and Remus and named the lynx Larry. The original group of animals was in fact painted, as opposed to their current day stone aesthetic, however as with many statues the paint gradually wore off over time. The Animal Wall was called one of Cardiff’s most cherished features by Wales Online in 2016 and architect William Frame said about the wall that “there’s nothing like it anywhere else in Britain.” In the interior of the castle can be found additionally carved animals, mainly lions as they were symbols of Lore Bute’s (The Bute family owned the castle years ago) family.

s the capital city of Wales, Cardiff ’s history spans centuries and has a mixture of brilliant, and often eccentric stories. With an ever-evolving background, it’s time to take a look at some of the historic sites that many of us might not have known about until now. Cardiff ’s Roman history Of course, many of us by now know that Cardiff Castle was used as part of a Roman fort during the Welsh Roman invasion. The Romans were said to have arrived in south-east Wales in around 43AD. The stone wall seen as part of the Cardiff Castle wall was once part of the originally Roman fort, strategically placed in Cardiff, where there would be easy access to the sea. Did you know that the Romans left a further mark on the city in Trelai Park in Ely? There is a site in the park which, although now inconspicuous, was once a Roman Villa. The villa was found in 1922 during an excavation by the former Director of the National Museum of Wales, Sir Mortimer Wheeler. It was found during the excavation that the initial construction could date as far back as the 2nd century, although occupation of the villa ended by 325 AD. Unfortunately, the villa no longer exists, but site remains as an unmown area at Trelai Park, where it is obvious as to where the site formerly was. A second castle in the capital Everyone’s familiar with Cardiff Castle, but did you know Cardiff has another castle? Morgraig Castle was discovered

Cardiff’s Bullring: Do you recognise this corner of Cardiff? Source: Jeremy Segrott (via. Wikimedia Commons) at the turn of the 20th century and is believed to be over 600 years old. It can be located near the Traveller’s Rest pub close to Caerphilly Mountain. There is still much debate about who built the castle, with many arguing it was either Gilbert de Clare or the Lord of Senghennydd, but what we do know is that it was around the 13th century. It does not appear to have ever been completed, nor occupied, but is not a Grad II listed building in Cardiff open to visitors. Death Junction For those of us who have ever driven through Cathays and found ourselves at Death Junction between Crwys Road, Albany Road, Richmond Road and Mackintosh Place, it can be easy to imagine the namesake was due to the dangerous crossing. However, Death Junction was not named for the reason many of us may think. The real root of the name comes from 1679, when two Catholic priests, Philip Evans and

John Lloyd, were hanged from gallows at the site for treason, alleging “executing their priesthood”. Before Death Junction became a road, fields existed in the area, and Richmond Road now runs through the centre of where those executed at Death Junction were buried. There still remains plaques for two of the men executed on the side of what is now a NatWest bank on the corner of Death Junction. The Cardiff bullring I’m sure we’re all familiar with the statue of Aneurin Bevan, the Welshman who helped form the NHS, at the bottom of Queen Street. But what many are unlikely to know is that the statue marks the area formerly known as Cardiff ’s bullring. During the 18th century, blood sport was supposedly common in Cardiff, where a bull tethered to a post was set upon by mastiffs on the corner crossing between Cardiff Castle and Queen Street. According to records, the town council met at the beginning of the 18th century in order to discuss the expenses of the

sport. Bull-baiting in Cardiff would not be banned until 1835. Burials on the streets If you’ve ever walked along the side of St John’s Church on the Hayes and seen metal numbers along the floor, there’s finally an explanation for them. The numbers refer to burial vaults under the ground for members of St John’s Church buried there over the years. The path, which now runs from the opening of Cardiff Market, was built atop the church graveyard when the city was developed, so that people could get the market more easily. The walk gained itself the nickname ‘Dead Man’s Alley’ as a result. It remains uncertain as to whether the bodies are indeed in the vaults or whether they were moved to other parts of the churchyard, but the path which is now in place commemorates the vaults with brass numbers. Cardiff ’s secret tunnels As a vast city with many nooks and crannies, it’s not particularly surprising that Cardiff has a hidden underground tunnel system. A medieval tunnel system was built by monks at Cardiff Castle, and runs underneath the city centre, including through Bute Park from the side of the Castle. Another tunnel runs from the BT building on Park Street to Cardiff Castle, which was later built by the then British Post Office in the 1970s to carry cables. It’s not the only tunnel system, however. Excavation found further tunnels in the basement of the Angel Hotel, which was dated to the 13th century, and connects to Cardiff Castle. Further tunnels also run under St David’s Centre, Ely River and Culverhouse Cross.

The National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth, Ceredigon Fflur Trevor

@Caerdydd Editor

he National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth, Ceredigon is one of the most important cultural institutions in Wales. However, in recent weeks there was a growing uncertainty regarding jobs at the Library and the future of the Library itself. Established in 1907, the National Library of Wales was one of the first distinct Welsh institutions following the cultural re-awakening in the 19th century. It is the biggest library in Wales, holding 6.5 million books in both

Welsh and English. It keeps many rare and important manuscripts, including The Black Book of Carmarthen, the earliest surviving manuscript entirely in Welsh, which dates back to 1250. In January 2021, it was revealed that 30 jobs were at risk at the Library in Aberystwyth, as services faced significant cuts. Currently, the library is funded by a combination of grant-in-aid allocated by the Welsh Government and income through the Libraries own activities. Over the past 15 years, grantin-aid received by the Library from the Welsh Government has hardly changed. In the 2020-21 financial year the Library was given £9.89 mil-

lion compared with £9.57 million in 2006-2007. The Library’s director of corporate services previously said an increase of £1.5 million to the annual grant could be enough to avoid the cuts. However, the Welsh Government maintains that there is not any additional money available for the Library. The lack of recognition of the National Library by the Welsh Government has been heavily criticised. An anonymous senior source told the BBC “It isn’t a lack of money, it’s a lack of political will.” Bestselling author Philip Pullman also wrote that the institution was “in danger and it must be saved”. Petitions

National Library of Wales: One of the most important cultural institutions in Wales is facing financial problems. Source: Dylan Moore (via. Wikimedia Commons)

calling for “fair funding” for the Library have been spread across social media has gathered over 14,000 signatures in a bid to save The National Library. Bestselling author Philip Pullman tweeted that “The National Library of Wales is in danger, and it must be saved”. He continued by describing the cuts by the Welsh Government as an act of “vandalism”. On Wednesday, February 3, The Welsh Government announced a significant U-turn in their funding of the library and proposed a £2.25m rescue package to protect jobs at the National Library of Wales. The additional financial support was celebrated by The National Library, politicians and the people of Wales. Roger Lewis, president of National Museum Wales said: “This additional money places us in a stronger position to face these challenges, ensuring Amgueddfa Cymru can actively work to support the healing and rebuilding of the communities of Wales” 2020 was a particularly challenging year for businesses due to the coronavirus pandemic including the National Library of Wales. Roger Lewis also mentioned “The impact of COVID-19 has posed unprecedented challenges for many organisations and businesses in Wales, and Amgueddfa Cymru is no exception” Leader of Plaid Cymru, Adam Price said: “Congratulations to all who campaigned to save of the world’s best libraries + the repository of our historic, artistic and intellectual treasures”

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SPORT

YOUR Gair Rhydd’s Six Nations 2021 breakdown SPORT DESK T Tom Walker

Head of Sport

he 2021 Six Nations kick off this past weekend is what again the cataylst for an exciting year of rugby ahead. We have everything you need to know about how the squads are shaped up heading into what will be a grueling campaign for those involved.

Wales

Tom Walker

Freddie Bennett

Ella Fenwick

Ben Lovell-Smith sport@gairrhydd.com

Round One

Italy - France England - Scotland Wales - Ireland Standings pts pts diff 1. FRANCE 5 40 2. WALES 4 5 3. SCOTLAND 4 5 4. IRELAND 1 -5 5. ENGLAND 1 -5 6. ITALY 0 -40

Following disastrous Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup campaigns, 2020 is very much a year to forget for Welsh rugby fans. Coming off the back of Warren Gatland’s 13 year reign as head coach and a gruelling 2019 World Cup campaign, maybe an off year was to be expected. But if that is the case you want to make, it puts incredible pressure on 2021 to show signs of progression under Wayne Pivac. The prospect of going a whole tournament without Alun Wyn Jones would be a daunting task, but the news that he is reaching full fitness will be a big boost to Pivac and his team. Jones has not played since injuring his knee during Wales’ Autumn Nations Cup win over Italy and was originally expected to be ruled out for 10 weeks after damaging knee ligaments. But true to form, the captain looks set to return ahead of schedule. Pivac’s squad raised a few eyebrows, both with its inclusions and exclusions. Dan Lydiate is preferred over James Botham and Shane Lewis-Hughes despite not featuring for Wales since the game against Australia in November 2018. Ken Owens, Josh Navidi and Adam Beard return to add some more competition in the forwards, whilst Scarlets flanker Josh Macleod is named as the only uncapped player in the squad. Pivac elected to choose the formerly mentioned Williams over Rhys Webb, with Scarlets scrum-halves Gareth Davies and Kieran Hardy also included. “We questioned his pace at the top end of the game. The other three all bring electric pace, we know that. That is something in question at the moment with Rhys but he’s not out of the loop in playing for Wales in the future.” A pretty brutal assessment, but scrum half is a pretty staked position for Wales a notable was always a realistic possibility. Hallam Amos and Louis Rees Zammit will be fighting for the wing spots, especially given Josh Adams two match suspension following a breach on Covid protocals. A fifth-place finish in last year’s campaign still makes for grim reading and there will have to be an improvement on the one victory in the 2020 championship if Pivac wants the questions directed his way to stop. The head coach clearly has a sense of optimism, saying Wales have enough to win the whole tournament. A rather hopeful assessment in my eyes, but the squad certainly looks better on paper than it did in the autumn period. Whether that translates to the pitch is another matter, and can only be truly analysed after seeing the product throughout the tournament.

Ben Lovell-Smith Sport Editor

England

England go into the tournament as favourites following victories in both the 2020 Six Nations and the inaugural Autumn Nations Cup tournament. Preparations for the tournament this

year are somewhat unique as the vast majority of the Saracens contingent of the squad have not played competitive rugby since England’s final match of the Autumn Nations Cup nine weeks ago. This includes the likes of captain Owen Farrell as well as stalwarts Jamie George and Maro Itoje. The rhetoric coming from the camp insists that the players will be match ready, as they train to more than test match intensity. In light of the short turnaround between the conclusion of the previous Premiership season and the beginning of the next, the players may actually be ‘fresher’ than their counterparts. Additionally, Joe Launchbury, Joe Marler and Sam Underhill have all pulled out from the original squad, and there is no place for Kyle Sinckler who is still serving a ban for his verbal abuse of referee and former teammate Karl Dickson in Bristol’s Premiership match against Exeter. These gaps have been filled by Charlie Ewels, Waps’ Tom West and Jack Willis and Exeter’s Harry Williams. It will be particularly interesting to see what combination Eddie Jones opts for at centre. With Manu Tuilagi sidelined there is a place for grabs at outside centre. Henry Slade is the most experienced option, with 31 caps and fulfilled the role most recently in England’s Autumn Nations Cup triumph. However, Ollie Lawrence was exceptional during that tournament, before losing his place to injury. France have become a continual banana skin for England, having ruined their Grand Slam hopes last year and pushed the Autumn Nations Cup final to extra time despite fielding a secondstring side. England’s away fixtures are against Ireland and Wales, victors of the Grand Slams in 2018 and 2019 respectively. However with both sides in transition and the unmistakable significance of empty stadia, these away trips may not fulfill the same dread that they have done in previous years. Though there are a number of potential slip ups, England have a good chance of retaining their title this year and it is for certain that Eddie Jones will settle for nothing less.

Oscar Lewis Contributor

France

The French team are arguably the most exciting in the Northern Hemisphere right now. It is a squad full of young, talented players, and last year arguably should have won the Six Nations. They beat England in Paris, playing attacking rugby which oozed class compared to England’s more defensive approach, but just were not clinical enough. They only lost last year’s campaign on points difference, but losing to the opposition you beat would have been tough to take for the French who are still searching for their first title since 2010. Fabien Galthie has picked a team full of talent with enough star quality to make any team nervous, however, the loss of Romain Ntamack is massive. Antoine Dupont’s quality should shine through and playing more with Louis Carbonel and Matthieu Jalibert will improve the squad’s confidence and chemistry. In the forwards, captain Charles Ollivon and Gregory Alldritt feature in a powerful backrow with the young prop Georges-Henri Colombe looking to make his first France appearance. If they can maintain Cameron Woki’s fitness, he will add pace and strength to the forward pack. Woki sets the tone for the rest of the team to follow, show-

Home: Wales will be back in the Principality Stadium for this championship, albeit without the Welsh army behind them. Credit: Tom Walker ing this against England in the Autumn Nations Cup final, dragging Anthony Watson into touch at the first kickoff. With that added spark the French team looked hard to beat. The away trip to Twickenham seems to be the crunch match of this years’ tournament as it pits the best two sides against one another.

Italy

The Azzurri are aiming to end a 27-match losing run in the championship that dates to 2015, having finished in 6th place for the past five years. Franco Smith has urged his team to approach the impending Six Nations with courage and leadership and has repeatedly outlined his vision to help the Azzurri become more competitive against the Championship’s biggest hitters. Several youngsters will be provided valuable game time over the coming weeks as he tries to expand Italy’s talent pool- Daniele Rimpelli, Marco Manfredi, Riccardo Favretto and Juan Ignacio Brex are the latest uncapped players to receive call ups, looking to follow fly-half Paolo Garbisi, who impressed on his Six Nations debut in October. One of the issues with the Italian squad is the weakness of the forwards. Skipper Luca Bigi will have to play an important role in the team’s success, having leant on fellow hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini, Bigi will need to pass on his experience to help his younger teammates thrive. The backline has the capacity to cause some damage to the bigger teams with Paolo Garbis at fly half and utility back Tommaso Allan, two players who can spark the match alive. But the biggest test will be whether the backs can maintain defensive structure and discipline against the bigger and stronger teams. The loss of Gloucester back row Jake Polledri and fullback Matteo Minozzi is a shame as they add some match winning potential to the squad.

Scotland

Gregor Townsend has picked a largely inexperienced side for his squad this year, with just five of the 35 having appeared 50 times for Scotland. The Scottish squad is exciting and possibly the strongest squad they’ve put together in the past few years, they have great strength in depth and will look to make big strides in 2021. Having Finn Russell back fit is massive for the team and Townsend, having missed the Autumn Nations Cup Semi-Final against Ireland, the team missed his talent and ability to change a game at any moment, the Scottish fans will be hoping that key players Russell and Stuart Hogg will be able to

perform at their attacking, fluent best if the Scots want to improve on their fourth position last year. The addition of Richie and Johnny Gray will add experience to the forward pack, with the loss of both frontline hookers, Stuart McInally and Frazer Brown, the pack will look to the Gray brothers for leadership and much-needed level-headedness. Hamish Watson in the back row will provide the grit and power needed to win the tough physical battles on the pitch. In the backline, Cameron Redpath, James Lang, and Duncan Taylor, there’s three talented players battling it out for the two centre positions in the team. Captain Stuart Hogg is joined by Edinburgh Rugby trio Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham and Duhan van de Merwe and Saracens’ Sean Maitland in the back three, all with as much dynamism and match-winning ability the team will need.

Caitlin Parr

Contributor

Ireland

While technically in contention until the very end of last year’s campaign, Ireland will be looking to improve on their third-place finish in 2020. Anticipating the pandemic ongoing into the 20/2021 season, Ireland founded a COVID-19 Committee back in April 2020 and are now successfully residing in a bio secure team bubble base that should protect the squad and their supporting team through all upcoming training and clashes. There is also optimism within the camp that many key players will be fit to return from injury in time for the opening match in Cardiff and the rest of the tournament— especially Tadhg Furlong who is in contention to play his first game in 11-months this week following calf, back and hamstring injuries; as well as captain Johnny Sexton who will be looking to surpass 100 caps across the span of the tournament should he overcome an ongoing hamstring injury. Andy Farrell also issued the update that Jacob Stockdale could reportedly be back in time for the third round of the Championship at Stadio Olimpico. The Ulster player suffered a knee injury when playing for the club earlier in January. An uncapped duo, Munster scrumhalf Craig Casey and Ulster prop Tom O’Toole, have also been named in Farrell’s squad. Casey, 21, was part of the 2019 Ireland Under-20s team who took home the Grand Slam after defeating Wales Under-20s, 26-17, at Stadiwm Zip World, Colwyn Bay.

CHWARAEON

Wales’ 2021 sporting calendar We take a look at all the major sporting events of Welsh relevance to keep an eye out for this year Ben Lovell-Smith Sport Editor

Fit for purpose: The Japan National Stadium which will hold all the track and field events in this summer’s Olympics, as well as the opening and losing ceremonies. Source: Arne Müseler (via Wikimedia Commons)

from and we all remember the magic of the 2016 Euros. Meanwhile Swansea are on a promotion charge in the English Championship. Steve Cooper’s men currently sit one point off the automatic promotion spots, we could see the Swans in the Premier League in August. Cardiff will welcome the England cricket team to Sophia Gardens as they prepare themselves for the test series against India later in the summer. Initially facing Sri Lanka in two consecutive T20 internationals on 23rd and 24th June, before a showdown one day international against Pakistan on July 8th. Fan attendance seems somewhat unlikely given current circumstances, however tickets are still on sale and we can all live in hope can’t we? Following the cricket, the Olym-

pics will begin on 23rd July and there will be plenty of Welsh representatives on show if it goes ahead. Including world number one and commonwealth gold medalist judoka Natalie Powell who is aiming to make her second successive Olympics. Cyclist Elinor Barker, who won gold in Rio and is a reigning world champion in the Scratch Race and the Points Race Commonwealth gold medalist will be looking to add to her medal tally. Wales boast two taekwondo world champions heading for Tokyo, Jade Jones is gunning for a third successive Olympic title, while Lauren Williams will hope for her first. There will also be copious Welsh rowers in British boats this summer and Jay Quinn will represent Wales as surfing makes its Olympic bow.

2020 was the year for Welsh darts as Wales won the World Cup and representative Gerwyn Price won the World Championship to place himself as the current world number one. The success has carried over to 2021, with Jonny Clayton winning the masters to earn him a Premier League Darts place and set up another exciting year for Welsh darts. Meanwhile, the Rugby League World Cup will begin at the end of October. Taking place in England, it is close to a home tournament for the Wales team, though reaching the latter rounds would seem a miracle. Clearly there is plenty of sport in 2021 to enjoy, despite the pandemic, so get your flatscreen ready, stock up the minibar, and pray for some fan involvement by the end of the year.

Is free-to-air cricket the answer to the sport’s woes? for the many who cannot afford it, the game has been lost. It has to be said that TV is not the only way to access cricket. BBC Test Match Special radio broadcasting is a legendary aspect of the game and has been consistently brilliant in providing commentary and analysis of the cricket. Yet, for those who do not understand the game and need to see it in order to piece together all its different aspects, the radio broadcasting cannot be entirely helpful. Therefore, for many years cricket has failed to recapture the attention of the nation. Enter Ben Stokes. The 2019 World Cup Final was on free-to-air TV on Channel 4 and over 15 million people

Testing conditions: M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, where England

will play the first two tests. Source: SriniG (via Wikimedia Commons ) grueling series, England emerged vicFreddie Bennett torious with a 2-1 series score. Best of all, this series was available for anyone Sport Editor to watch. The climax of the fourth test or the first time since the 2005 amassed over eight million viewers. Ashes, Test Cricket makes a return Cricket was back on the free-to-air to free-to-air TV on Channel 4. map. This time it will be for an India versus This should have been the start of England series which started on Friday, something, perhaps getting more peoFebruary 5 that looks to be a tough en- ple into the game. Failing that, it might counter including four test matches, have regained some lapsed supporters five Twenty20s and three one-day in- who had not seen the game in a long ternationals. All of them will be shown time. Yet, after the series finished, Sky on Channel 4 in what is a late return to Sports won the rights to the Cricket telfree-to-air TV for Cricket. evision broadcasting and after this emThe 2005 Ashes captured national at- phatic national triumph, Cricket slowly tention. A fierce series which encapsu- started to fade away from the public lated all that is great about Test Cricket consciousness. While Sky has done an with its most ancient rivalry. After a excellent job of broadcasting the game,

BUCS All BUCS Competitions cancelled for 2020-21 season.

f last year was a bad year for Welsh sport, then 2021 does not appear to be much better. Fears of the South African variant have put the Lions tour in doubt and the Olympics could easily face the same fate. However, as we speak Welsh coronavirus cases are on the decline and Wales are in the midst of a new Six Nations campaign. We are far from armageddon. Here is what Welsh sport has on offer in 2021: Cardiff will not be the sea of red during this year’s Six Nations but at least the Welsh side have finally returned to the Principality Stadium. Llanelli and Parc y Scarlets did not offer much respite for the team who finished fifth overall in both the Six Nations and the inaugural Autumn Nations Cup tournament and Wayne Pivac will hope for an upturn in results in 2021, or his head could roll. Nevertheless, a rugby feast lies in store with the tournament running from Saturday just gone until Saturday 20th March 2021. The SIx Nations holds extra interest this year with the background of a Lions tour fast approaching. South Africa have not played an international test since the 2019 Rugby World Cup final and Warren Gatland will be itching to have a shot at the world champions. The first test is scheduled for Saturday 24th July 2021 if it goes ahead as planned. Wales will kick off their Euros campaign on 12th June against Switzerland in Baku. Joined by Italy and Turkey, their group is difficult though not impossible to escape

for too long cricket has been talking to itself with constant in-fighting about the scourge of one format over another and trying to win back traditional fans. watched on as Ben Stokes and the rest of the England team overcame New Zealand to win what was possibly the greatest game of Cricket ever played. With over-throws, super-overs and tied scores this really was a game that had it all. Cricket once again was back on the map and it showed that it can still capture the hearts and minds of a nation. The scenes of people jumping and cheering in front of a big screen at Trafalgar Square in London is ingrained into the memory of those of us who fol-

lowed the events of that day. This is the time for Test Cricket’s return to free-to-air TV. Three of the four test matches are spread across this month against India, beginning at 4am UK time with each day ending at 12 midday UK time. Yet, the final test, which is a day/night match in Ahmedabad from 4-8 March, will begin at 9am UK time. With the country in lockdown, this could be the incentive for people to have it on with their morning cup of Coffee. The benefits of the games being shown on free-to-air TV could have a reach far beyond the end of this series. One of the main issues with cricket has been its accessibility. There have been attempts to bring in more interest from around the country such as The Hundred which should be a more explosive 100 ball form of Twenty20 Cricket. However, for too long cricket has been talking to itself with constant in-fighting about the scourge of one format over another and trying to win back traditional fans. As a result, everyone else outside of the cricketing world has effectively been lost to the game. But as more people will be able to view this series the hope is that cricket could actually expand and return to the national sporting map. Hopefully with this series being on Channel 4, and a very busy year ahead for England with a return series against India and then New Zealand at home followed by Australia away, the flame that was sparked during the 2005 Ashes can bring Test Cricket back to the national stream of consciousness.

n an update on January 13, BUCS announced that all League and Knockout seasons will be cancelled for the remainder of the academic year. The announcement comes as coronavirus cases continue to increase across the whole of the United Kingdom. “Unfortunately, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and the unpredictable nature of nationwide lockdowns and restrictions, it is not possible for the competition to go ahead in a safe environment.” After no BUCS competitions across the whole of semester one, there was hope that university sport would be able to return in the new year, with BUCS adapting the structures of its competitions to ensure there were less travel for the teams. Over the last few months, we did all we could to try and make sport happen.” The statement read, “We very much recognise the importance of sport, and the part it plays in the physical and mental wellbeing of students, especially at the moment. “However, whilst our overarching goal is to deliver the best student sport experience, to put competition on during this time would risk player welfare and safety, and that is not a chance we are willing to take.” Play was meant to return at the end of February, with collision sports scheduled to begin Wednesday 24 February. The only Cardiff University team to have been lucky enough to take the field this year was the Men’s Hockey team. They got three matches into their season before the league was eventually suspended to coincide with new national Covid guidelines. Amongst the gloomy news, they did ensure that the Outdoor Cricket league set to take place in the third semester was still in their plans, aslong as student safety can be achieved and it alligns with the wider national protocals. In regard to individual sports, they have all been postponed until March at the earliest, with hope that they can be played later on in the year, but of course this is subject to the ever-changing conditions of the pandemic. They also laid out their plans to reintroduce virtual competitions for teams to participate in: “We continue to provide virtual activity and other engaging opportunities”, enabling “healthy competition between individuals, teams and universities.” There has yet to be any announcement in reference to the 2021 Varsity set to take place around April, however in the same vein as the BUCS decision, its hard to predict its status. This news will undoubtedly bring much disappointment to teams across Cardiff University and the wider university sport landscape. The importance of sport to many student’s university experience cannot go understated, which makes the entire absence of it this year frustrating for university athletes and fans everywhere. We cannot wait for university sport to return back to regularity back in the 2021/22 academic season.

Reporting by Tom Walker

Gair Rhydd’s Six Nations 2021 Breakdown: An in-depth analysis of

each nations hopes for this campaign

SPORT CHWARAEON Wales 2021 sporting calendar PREVIEW

Ben-Lovell Smith Sport Editor

fter a disjointed year in the sporting world, 2020 was not the year for Welsh sport to thrive. Despite the previous disappointing year, the upcoming 2021 season if all goes ahead looks jam-packed for Welsh athletes and teams alike. Sporting events like the Six Nations, Euros, Olympics, the Rugby League World Cup and many more are on the horizon for this year. Even with coronavirus still looming over there is still plenty of sport to look out for and enjoy over the season. Who knows hopefully we might even see some fans back in the stadiums by the end of the year. Continued on page 25

All BUCS competitions cancelled for 2020-21 season BUCS Tom Walker

Head of Sport

Longevity: A successful seven years for Ludlow is to come to an end this year. Source: FAW Wales

Ludlow’s Legacy: What did Jayne Ludlow leave behind as Wales manager? Tom Walker

Head of Sport

n January 18, Jayne Ludlow left her role as Wales women’s manager by mutual consent. “My time as the national team manager has been an eventful and exciting journey,” Ludlow said. “It has been an honour and an absolute pleasure to have worked with the staff and players.” The former Arsenal player leaves the role after almost six years in charge of the national team to become part of a technical leadership team at FIFA. “It has been a fantastic learning environment for me personally and I am proud of what we have achieved over the last six years as a group of staff and players, whom I want to thank.” The news certainly came to the surprise of many, including some of the Wales squad: “We are really, really going to miss her.” explained Wales’ most capped player Jess Fishlock. “We all expected to go again together, but conversations were going on behind the scenes with Jayne and the FAW. For us players, like the fans, it probably comes as a bit of a shock.”

Ludlow’s relationship with Fishlock, one of Wales’ greatest ever players, was not always an easy one and somewhat defined her management style. In her first squad announcement in 2015, Ludlow dropped Fishlock from the squad completely and appointed Sophie Ingle as team captain. This was met by some astonishment, but the Wales manager stuck to her guns citing Fishlocks inconsistency in availability as the main reason for dropping her. “There is no hiding my relationship with Jayne has been turbulent,” Fishlock clarified, “at the beginning it was a lot rockier and harder, but as the years have gone on we’ve developed a mutual respect for each other and now I would say, really enjoy each other.” Ludlow’s trophy laden playing career, 26 major trophies in total, insinuated winning was the only way she knew how to do it. She took Wales to 31st in the world rankings, higher than the team has ever been before. What may disappoint the former Arsenal player upon departure the most was the inability to get Wales into their first major finals in the country’s history.

Under Ludlow, Wales came close twice to reaching a play-off tournament spot. In 2018, they finished second to England in World Cup qualifying, a campaign which saw the team go 687 minutes without conceding a goal. Last year’s 2022 European Championship qualifiers will undoubtedly be the one the team will rue the most of the two, as the Welsh team were edged out on a head-to-head record to fellow British side Northern Ireland. Given that Wales were 21 places higher than Northern Ireland in the FIFA women’s world rankings, 34th to 55th, it can only be viewed as a huge disappointment. But despite the near misses, what the two qualification attempts did for women’s football in Wales is in fact a gleaming light of her career as Wales manager. “The 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign enhanced the profile of the game throughout the country, inspiring young girls across Wales to play football for the first time.” explained FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford. “Off the field Jayne has been a role model for the women’s game in Wales,

regularly visiting schools across the country and attending the National Eisteddfod to inspire future generations.” Both as a player and a manager Ludlow served her country with pride and passion, and what she leaves behind is certainly a basis for that elusive major tournament for whoever takes over. “I wish the squad well in the future and I feel that qualification for a first major final is not far away.” Ludlow said. The impact she left on the players was evident in there departing messages: “I’m gutted. Done so much for us as a nation and has given us a solid platform to build on.” exclaimed Wales forward Natasha Harding; “The past six years have been different but special. [It was] Truly an honour.” While Wales record goalscorer, Helen Ward, who certainly thrived under Ludlow’s tutorship said, “The last six years has seen people stand up and take notice of ‘little old Wales’. Thank you for the good times, and the not so good times that have ultimately helped us learn and grow as a group and individuals.” Ludlow’s legacy goes far beyond what she achieved on the pitch.

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fter an update by BUCS on January 13, all competitions have been cancelled for the 2020/21 season. Due to the current unpredictability regarding the Coronavirus pandemic, they have taken this decision to ensure the safety of the players and all involved. Within the gloomy news BUCS confirmed there were still plans for the Outdoor Cricket League to go ahead later in the year. For now this is undoubtedly disappointing for many of us but hopefully the 2021/22 season can bring back the university sports we love. Continued on page 25

Is free-to-air cricket the answer to sports woes?

CRICKET

Freddie Bennett Sport Editor

ith the England v India series which spreads across February and March being shown on free-to-air TV on Channel 4, there are rekindled hopes about what this exposure could do for the game. For the first time since the epic 2005 Ashes a Test series will be shown on terrestrial television. Hopefully as the country is in lockdown and millions of people work from home, some new fans might tune in while they have their breakfast for what looks to be a good face-off between two very strong sides. Continued on page 25